Utah Puts Morality Police on Buses to Back Online Gambling Block

Utah's transit division already uses filtering software to keep passengers employing the free wireless Internet from visiting online gambling sites, and now will allow police to ticket violators.

The Utah Transit Authority will now fine any passengers caught using its free wireless Internet service to view objectionable sites, including online gambling websites. The public transportation division already employs software to filter out casinos, pornography, and other sites deemed inappropriate, but will now empower transit police to issue fines to those accessing sites which penetrate the filter.

According to Gerry Carpenter, a spokesman for UTA, "The filter is dynamic and constantly updated by the software provider to provide the most up-to-date protection possible." But some sites may escape the net, and passengers violating the terms of service for the free Wi-Fi can now be fined $300 for a single violation.

"Enforcement would be by a transit police officer who would have to make a judgment call prior to issuing a citation," said Carpenter.

Even passengers using private Internet access, or viewing previously downloaded material, can be charged with disorderly conduct and fined $100, said Carpenter. He stated a reason for the policy is because children ride the state buses and trains and may see the offending content.

Libertarians claimed the rules violated free speech principles and First Amendment rights, and said the conditions were too broad and lacked definition. Utah does not have legal gambling, but there is no law against simply viewing a gaming website.