484 DEAR HACKER

484 DEAR HACKER

One thing that always happens during these dark periods is the emergence of col- laborators who go along with such things and individuals who stand up and fight them. One thing we can almost guarantee is that you’ll be very surprised who winds up in each camp.

Dear 2600:

I work as a delivery driver here in North Carolina and I usually get home rather late. I live in a fairly small town (2,000 residents and 10,000 college kids) and my car is very easily identifiable by the nu- merous computer related stickers on the back of it. I was stopped by the law at a license check... a fairly routine happening. They looked at my license and then asked me to pull off to the side — an officer would be with me “shortly.” After waiting for ten minutes, the officer who put me aside asked me to step out of the car. Now remember, I am a delivery driver, and common sense would tell you that I have a valid driver’s license and also that I would not be under the influence of any substance (perhaps caffeine?). So naturally, I was a bit puzzled by this. He then asked me if he could search my car and of course I said (in a polite fashion), “No, you may not. I do not feel that there is any reason for you to search, and certainly no probable cause.” Oh, but this officer found probable cause... there was a stack of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly in my back seat dating from 1998 through 2002. He said that this was a “suspicious magazine” and he was baffled that

I would even think to have such a thing in my possession. I told him that I did not believe this was any reason or cause to search my car, so he called one of his boys over. They told me that I was interfering with an officer’s line of duty and that I could be thrown in jail for such behavior. I am not one to get thrown in jail (especially at the age of 18, still living with parents), so I stepped aside. After a 30-minute search, they decided the car was fine and there was no reason to hold me any longer. They even had drug dogs there to sniff everything out... looking for that kilo of cocaine that every cop just knows is in there somewhere. Needless to say, I think that this is a perfect example of what the media has done to “hackers” and the image they have drawn

A C U LT U R E O F R E B E L S

of us. I would love to press charges, but being an 18-year-old entering college, I simply don’t have the funds.

Evnglion You acted entirely properly by questioning them, keeping your cool, knowing when

to back down, and letting the world know what happened. Unfortunately this kind of thing will continue to happen. It’s always a good idea to get as much information as possible from the scene — car number, badge number, names, etc. in the event that you decide to pursue matters later. Most people choose not to and we com- pletely understand why.

Dear 2600: