Florida Reduces Penalties For 'Sexting' Teens 295
SonicSpike sends word that Florida has changed how law enforcement deals with teenagers who send racy pictures to each other over their phones. Quoting CNN:
"Before Saturday, a Florida teenager who sent or received nude photos or video could have been charged with a felony and forced to register as a sex offender. But a new law, recognizing the proliferation of cell phones and computers, eases the penalties for 'sexting' infractions. A first offense is punishable by eight hours of community service or a $60 fine; the second is a misdemeanor and the third is a felony. ... Under House Bill 75, teens who receive explicit images won't be charged if they took reasonable steps to report it, did not solicit the image and did not send it to someone."
Re:Curious (Score:4, Interesting)
We used to send nude pictures of ourselves with my gf when we were teen, and it was both for the little thrill, sexual pleasure but also for feeling love towards the other person. When we later broke up it never did cross my mind to spread them to internet. Things change, and while it hurts, you don't have to be an ass about it.
It's sometimes funny when you read about parents writings on the internet, especially slashdot, how it feels like they've completely forgotten how it was to be a teenager. Of course, you didn't have smartphones, but you had the equivalent stuff anyway.
And of course, I don't live in the US where showing a nipple on TV is a huge thing (but killing people and other violence is just fine), so maybe I'm more liberal because of that too, but you just have to accept that sexting is usual and is what teens do. Even if you didn't get to do that as a teen.
Freedom and democracy (Score:5, Interesting)
The US thinks it is the government's business what a teen sends their bf or gf on their cellphone. The US thinks that when you travel, you give up all privacy rights. The US thinks that getting angry with a border guard is a crime. The US assassinates its own citizens, believes in torture, and incarcerates people indefinitely without a trial. And I could go on. But the amazing thing about all of this is that the US thinks it is a shining example of freedom and democracy around the world. How insane is that?
Americans used to live in a great country, but honestly, that country is gone, now. It's a shame. They need to collectively get their heads out of their asses and learn to question the government, because it is not getting any better. I am not an American, and boy am I happy about that, because I live in a country that is actually an example of freedom and democracy, and that feels great.
Re:Still Very Evil (Score:2, Interesting)
I know enough people who have had a run in with the law where there was zero evidence. Not a single one decided to fight it and none of them were on charges sex related/child porn.
Then you know idiots (no personal offence meant).
I've had three separate criminal trials (for violent crime), in front of three different magistrates in three jurisdictions for a total of (about) 15 court appearances. I represented myself for all three trials. I plead not-guilty all three times, and I was acquitted all three times.
To make things more interesting, my ex-wife (we were in the middle of a divorce during the times that all these trials were happening) was a prosecutor, her brother was a prosecutor and all her friends were the magistrates in all three jurisdictions. Yet, I still represented myself and was acquitted, and never even considered a guilty pleading to a lessor charge.
So, yeah, if you know what you're doing, and you're boned up on legal research, you can very easily run rings around the state as they make their case. The prosecutor, after all, is merely a lawyer too stupid to make it in private practice.