Steve Pope wrote:
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/06/AR2008020604763.html>
>
>> i have the feeling this practice will end up before the supreme court
>> some day. hard to say what they would think about it.
>
> Since you're crossing a border they do not need a warrant
> to search you. End of story, I suspect, as far as the Supremes
> are concerned, unless there's seriously unreasonable profiling.
>
> It only makes sense to clear cookies/history before getting
> on an airplane, and maybe running "Secure Shredder" or similar.
> But wiping a laptop until it's blank seems a little extreme.
> It would take a long time to restore it from an internet
> connection in a hotel.
>
> Also if you re-download your music to your laptop after
> wiping it, it seems you are then committing more, rather than
> fewer copyright violations.
>

Question: How would the ICE people know if you had burned a disk from
paid-for music, like from your desk top, and just put that disk into
your laptop so you could listen on the plane? The whole thing sounds
rather iffy, IMHO.

I have a little MP3 player that I got as a gift from a friend. I have no
idea if the music on it is legal or not. I'm sure that the customs and
security agents will see it when I go through the security process going
to/from Europe at airports. I can't believe I'll be asked for licenses.

Down here (way-the-heck-south Texas) there have been several instances
where the customs people have confiscated bootleg DVDs at the border
crossing. Mostly from tourists. Those who know better don't declare
them and buy them when there are a lot of tourists crossing that day and
the customs officers are busy. Or so I am told <g>

Janet who legally brought home 4 gorgeous avocados and a big bottle of
Absolute vodka from Mexico yesterday.

--
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life