Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Jim Budler Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: The LAW vs. Telephone Access Devices Message-ID: <10949@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 15 Aug 90 06:48:02 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: Jim Budler Organization: Silvar-Lisco,Inc. Sunnyvale Ca. Lines: 75 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 574, Message 5 of 7 In article <10844@accuvax.nwu.edu> annala%neuro.usc.edu@usc.edu (A J Annala) writes: >I do some data communications technician type contracting work from >time to time (e.g. installing modems, analog line testing, protocol >analysis, etc). There have been notes on the network about police >confiscating equipment of the type I often use in my work. These [list of telecom devices deleted] >Tone Generator. The police claim is that such devices are telephone >access devices which should not be in the hands of the public. I am >curious about whether any other technical people have been challenged >by the police and what answer has satisfied them to go away without >hassle. >All of these devices can be purchased over the counter or by mail at [locations deleted for brevity] >appears to be to be completely ludicrous to claim these tools must not >be found in the possession of members of the public. They are >ordinary tools. Go down to your local hardware store. Buy a product called "Wonder Bar", or for that matter any of the similar high tensile steel *flat* crowbars. They are *very* useful tools around the home. *Don't* be caught carrying one of them at night behind someone else's home. The police call it a jemmy, and it is probable cause for arrest on suspicion of burglary. You can buy hollow point ammunition in any sporting goods store, but the practical difference between a hollow point cartridge and a "dum-dum" cartridge is none. And a "dum-dum" is illegal. The police *understand* how to determine realistically whether you are a burglar or a homeowner. They haven't a clue how to determine the same with the type of instruments you described. So they turned to the "experts", such as ATT and BellSouth. I think it was prudent on their part to go to experts. What is unfortunate is that they appear to have picked "experts" who have vested interests, and are willing to exercise them. The "police" have gotten burnt by BellSouth, and may be in the process of getting burnt by ATT. One hopes they learn from it. One point of view about this. If you were a policeman, and wanted to contact someone in a phone company, who would you call? Right, the *security guy*. Back in the old Marx Brothers movies, they were called "House Dicks". So now we have the police calling up their *security guy* at the phone company and saying "How can I identify a burgler?" Do you think they would get the same answer as they would get from Pat Townson, Gene Spafford, or even Robert Morris (take your pick of jr. or sr.)? I don't. Oops, sorry. Too long. But I own a "Wonder Bar", a couple handguns, and I recently bought over the counter some hollow point cartridges, and now wonder if these are "dum-dums" in police terms. I have to assume that since the "Wonder Bar" never leaves home, the pistols are at home or at the range, or in between, that I only have to worry during the "in between". Sigh. Jim Budler jimb@silvlis.com +1.408.991.6061 Silvar-Lisco, Inc. 703 E. Evelyn Ave. Sunnyvale, Ca. 94086