Florida Law May Accidentally Ban Computers and Smartphones

GrueMaster writes "Did Florida ban computers and smartphones? They tried banning Internet Cafes, but the wording in the law is overly broad. '... it's the wording that's problematic, as it defines a slot machine as "any machine or device or system or network of devices" that can be used in games of chance. Turns out the Internet is full of gambling sites, which is where the definition runs into some problems. Consuelo Zapata, owner of the Miami-Dade county Internet cafe Incredible Investments, LLC, is suing the state (PDF) to overturn the ban, saying that definition is too broad and could be applied to any number of electronic devices. "

Re:florida's governor is a criminal

[sabri]

I would abstain from the profanity used, but I think that banning internet cafes should be susceptible to a constitutional challenge.

This _AND_ sex

[tgetzoya]

http://gawker.com/5800990/did-florida-accidentally-ban-sex [gawker.com] So, what is there left to do in Florida? Die?

Re: florida's governor is a criminal

[Georules]

The internet cafes in Florida are not like internet cafes in countries outside of the USA. The computers there were literally there to be gambling machines. One such "internet cafe" near me was called "Lucky Day Internet Sweepstakes." I have also been to some of the internet cafes in London and found them to be convenient as a tourist.

Re: florida's governor is a criminal

[Randle_Revar]

This sounds like the story in, where was it, Ohio? Where "Internet Cafe" was basically slang/cover for "illegal casino".

Re: florida's governor is a criminal

[DragonTHC]

Well Florida is the "right to scam" state.

As a naturalized FL native, I can honestly say I've seen scammers at work. I've contracted for scammers, I've been stiffed contracting payment by scammers. I've been paid by scammers for legitimate work.

Florida is the place everyone comes to bleed through investors before opening up a new LLC when the money runs dry. I've seen it in at least 3 separate occasions over the past 10 years. Some businesses will change names and locations when they stiff too many people. They still called to get new cables run for their new offices.

Lest you forget about FL pill mills.

So when the state tries to ban Internet cafes, despite the verbiage being off, it's a good thing. Such businesses exist only to scam people.

Re:florida's governor is a criminal

[sg_oneill]

Im convinced half of these laws that get passed don't get passed through a competent lawyer to validate and check. So many utterly ludicrous laws get passed that completely violate constitutional protections or are so poorly written they practically handball themselves to completely arbitrary interpretation by possibly hostile judges all of which a simple rewording by a competent lawyer could correct.

I mean how many times do laws get passed banning porn only to get bounced by the courts who by now are surely bored silly with conservative (and under obama occasionally progressive) politicians who havent bothered to even glance at the constitution

Cafe owner was running a gambling den

[Camael]

Before you jump to defend the internet cafe owner, read his complaint [typepad.com]. The "internet cafe" was a disguised gambling den.

TLDR:-
1. Their computers all carry a "Game Display" programme.
2. Buying internet time entitles the user to participate in sweepstakes where they can win prizes. The more time you buy, the more chances you get to join the sweepstakes.
3. The "Game Display" was expressly created to, in their own words, "instill in the patron a sense of excitement and entertainment".

Yes, the law is overly broad and should be reworded, but in this case it did not get the wrong victim.

Having said that, the politicians appear to be equally dirty. There is some suspicion that this legislation was about politicians covering their butts and keeping legalized gambling interests happy. [miamiherald.com]

 

Re: florida's governor is a criminal

[TheNastyInThePasty]

That doesn't make it a good thing. (My tuition was paid for by a combination of Bright Futures and grants.) Bright futures is not needs based, it's merit based. Consider that buyers of lotto tickets are generally poor, trying to hit it big and that socioeconomic background is well correlated with academic merit. Therefore, the bright futures program is simply wealth redistribution from the poor to the already rich. It's completely ass-backwards. A strong progressive tax structure funding it would make much more sense.