Re: Response to door knocking

["Paul D. Robertson" <proberts () clark net>]

On Tue, 2 Feb 1999, Amos Hayes wrote:

> > I don't know anyone who doesn't have difficulty deciding how to react to
> > door-knocking.
>
> Perhaps expanding on the analogy of "door knocking" would be useful. Is

They rarely are, the problem with analogies is that there are normally
specifics that don't apply to the medium, or apply differently.

> there anywhere that people can actually be prosecuted for knocking on a

Yes, for instance if there is a "No Trespassing" sign on the fencepost, if
you pound too loudly, if there's a restraining order against you, and
under some circumstances if you have intent to do something wrong.

> door? Assuming the door is on the outside of your house and is a division
> between a commonly accepted 'private' area and a 'public' one, is there
> any crime involved in knocking on it? Repeated knocks maybe? Trying the
> doorknob?

Yes, yes, and yes for some given subset of available doors, avaliable
jurisdictions, etc.  However, firewalls aren't doors, and laws for
information systems differ from laws about actual doors.

Paul
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul D. Robertson      "My statements in this message are personal opinions
proberts () clark net      which may have no basis whatsoever in fact."
                                                                     PSB#9280