We are not amused

[Mrs Fish]

A man who erased his drunk-driving record from a police computer and replaced it with a winking "smiley face" graphic ended up with a suspended license and a fine when police failed to see the funny side.

The 19-year-old computer whiz had been arrested for drunk driving and summoned to appear in court in Besancon, in eastern France, the French daily Liberation reported Tuesday. Finding an unmanned computer as he arrived at the police station for his hearing, the man decided to test the good humor of the court by sneaking into the database.

He deleted his file from the computer's hard drive and inserted -- the text message shorthand for a winking smiley face -- in its place.

But rather than smiling at the prank, the judge handed the man a three-month suspended prison sentence, a $425 fine and suspended his driving license for three months.

Doh!

[CarZee]

but in this country he'd have got 7 years under some computer fraud type legislation, and had his license suspended for 10 years ... and faced a £5000 fine..

[incorrigible]

In this country he'd be sent on a few track days at the tax payers expense (probably sponsered by Bollinger)

PS, I'm quite amused

[mr_tony]

Surely its plain to see that anyone involved in computer crime (as this is classed in this country) is also guilty of being an enemy of the state, a terrorist and probably a paedophile too....

[corozin]

incorrigible said: In this country he'd be sent on a few track days at the tax payers expense (probably sponsered by Bollinger) PS, I'm quite amused

In Italy he could probably run for President after that... what class!

John