Reader comments
UTA sets fines for passengers viewing 'inappropriate' Web sites

Amazing, a Supreme Court, cannot agree on what is pornography, and yet UTA charges an officer or two with having to determine what is or isn't ? Thankfully there is an appeal route, but hopefully it's not going to be as prejudiced as most.

UTA, like any other business, cannot write laws or fine individuals. Totally illegal law. They can ask passengers to get off buses but they don't have the authority to write any laws. The TRAX and UTA police departments should already know this and can't write tickets or fine individuals. Only government entities of cities, counties, and state can write laws or ordinances. And ordinances are limited to city boundaries. UTA is a business and has over stepped the line on the issue of writing any laws or fining individuals.

Good for the UTA. Riders don't have to be bombarded with immoral images while in close proximity to others.

They are never going to be able to enforce the 18 year old rule. Kids with ipod touch will be doing whatever they want and will never get caught. I am glad they are working on blocking the porn etc but the 18 year old rule needs to get thrown out.

Sorry but why have connection on the bus anyway in the first place?

I don't see the reason for the illegality of the online gaming site? They're going overboard about the privacy of our homes.

Just gotta have that control, don't ya? How about letting people access the information they want on their own computers, and only getting involved if they are displaying something inappropriate to the public.

Every day it seems like I hear or see conservative rants about the possibility of being forced at gunpoint to pay for someone else's health care.

Now comes this column about UTA providing Internet service along with parental control for some passengers at the expense of all passengers. Apparently there are not any conservatives riding the FrontRunner or express buses.

Im not sure that the other riders of UTA buses will think kindly of the idea of helping to pay for services that they dont participate in. Especially with the exorbitant fares now being charged.

How about we press for a public transportation company that puts the public transportation as the highest priority instead of profits.

Good grief. UTA is providing a great service and an good incentive to ride the bus so that folks can either get started on their work day earlier or just be connected on their way to (and from) work. Would these people surf porn or gaming sites from work? I think UTA has every right to control what is accessed through their gateway, just like my employer does through theirs. Good onya, UTA!

-HW

Kudos to the UTA. While individuals do have freedom to choose what they do in private, individuals also have the right to ride a public transport and not be subjected to trash.

Thank you, thank you for taking a stand!

Very, very good point. What legal right does UTA have to levy fines and arrest people?

Unless it has some special authority in the Utah code, UTA has no more right to make its own laws and fine persons than Wal-Mart does.

Here is what will happen ...

The UTA will be deemed the "service provider" in court, by charging a fee to the rider ... and thus it will NOT be allowed to fine its own clients, for any portion of a service that the UTA itself is providing.

All this "service" does is create MORE unwanted regulated behavior ... which then in turns creates more court cases ... which then in turn creates more un-regulated and un-wanted behavior (think prop 8).

UTA should just say NO to all internet service, save their company and their consumer's fare money, and let people work on the things they bring with them inside their computers (which they then CAN fine them for) instead of offering them more access to more porn and card rooms over the net.

Avoid the very appearance of evil? No?

If you want the benefit you have to allow the cost and pay the piper. Shut the service off, then you have no problem.

It's not like there are competing bus lines forcing you to offer this service right? Or is it just like charging people for riding on the Sabbath because every other city does?

I for one am glad that the uta police have a presence on the train. There are so many people who ride without paying. I wish they would check people more frequently.
Frontrunner, Tracks, and the bus system needs to be a safe environment for all riders. Being a business class rider, I would stop riding if it was not safe or did not provide an acceptable benefit.
Good for UTA. Keep up the good work.

Sorry but this comment is absolutlely WRONG:

"Re: UTA out of bounds | 9:17 a.m. June 15, 2009
Very, very good point. What legal right does UTA have to levy fines and arrest people?

Unless it has some special authority in the Utah code, UTA has no more right to make its own laws and fine persons than Wal-Mart does."

UTA has every legal right and can fine any fool that doesnt obey the rules set by the Government Agency. Specifically read the Terms of Agreement before clicking agree for ANY Wi-Fi access. In this case if one is stupid or foolish enought to violate the TOA I hope they are fined and subject to imprisonment. Keep up the tremendous work UTA!

My boss blocks porn and it's ok by everyone. If we find a way to access it here, we could get fired and/or fined. No different from the UTA, which is a PUBLIC SERVICE. Good for UTA! They have every right to block content on their system. All you whiners should just go home and look at your porn in privacy. Or won't your wife let you?

again by UTA's constant "press releases"!

First: I ride Trax 3-4 times per week, and in the last 2 yrs. I have seen transit cops actually on the train checking for fares, a total of 4 times. Oh I see them in the parking lots of trax stations, (usually 2-3 of them), but SELDOM actually on the trains.

IF they EVER DID start down the aisles checking for tickets, don't you think the person perusing the porn would simply "minimize" it, or "exit" entirely?

IF someone sitting next to a "porn addict" turns the guy (or girl)in to a transit cop, is it his word against hers?

Point is: UTA does all sorts of "press releases" like this to make people think they're "right on top" of things, but:


THINK IT THROUGH - the ordinance isn't worth the paper its printed on!

While I don't necessarily object to blocking of pornography in public places. I have an issue with the infantilization of young adults in the United States. Many young adults under the age of 18 have devices that can connect to the internet using Wi-Fi. These high school age young adults are not small children and shouldn't be treated as such. Are young adults who may appear to be under the age of 18 going to have to produce identification proving that they are 18 if they are listening to internet radio that is streaming via Wi-Fi or downloading a ring tone for their telephone? How is this going to be policed? And if so, how will it stand up in court?

WOW - between policing the "smokers in the park", catching the Internet pornsters, counting peoples' chickens in their backyards, - its NO WONDER local police have no time to arrest illegals!

UTA is not writing "laws". Their enforcing their policies for public transportation. Just like any other business does, like WalMart, Sears, McDonalds, etc,..
They should intensify their focus on all the free loaders not paying their fares, which will help keep fare's at a reasonable price for everyone else.

Funny how quickly UTA adds a new service and everyone feels their already entitled to it.

Its a free service that they didnt have before, UTA puts rules on it and all of a sudden people are complaining as if buses had free WIFI for 100 years or something and are being robbed.

Get something for nothing and cry about it. Get over it people.