Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- TRAX and FrontRunner passengers now may face hefty fines for what UTA calls inappropriate use of its free Wi-Fi service.
The UTA Board of Trustees approved an ordinance May 27 which targets people viewing pornography, gambling or gaming Web sites using UTA's Web service. Transit police can issue a $300 fine for the first violation and a $500 fine for repeat offenders.
Coming Up
The Doug Wright Show (with Ethan Millard today)
10 a.m on KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM -- UTA can impose fines for those visiting naughty Web sites while on the train. This again will lead to a discussion on "what is pornography?" Is this really something we need?Some riders seem to like the idea.
"When it's in the presence of others it should have a certain amount of respect," one passenger told KSL.
"There are some people on the train who wouldn't want to be exposed to that type of thing," another said.
The new ordinance does not apply to riders using their own wireless air card or viewing images they downloaded before they got on TRAX or FrontRunner, but another ordinance does. People who violate the "disorderly conduct" ordinance face a $100 fine.
UTA says there is a good filter on its Wi-Fi service, but it is not perfect.
First Amendment lawyers question the policy, largely over what constitutes pornography.
UTA spokesman Gerry Carpenter said, "There is some question about the subjectivity of what's appropriate and what's inappropriate." He said the new ordinance allows for passengers to appeal a fine.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
