Assembly votes to pass e-mail restriction bill

Single Sign-On: You can use Facebook account to log in to LasVegasSun.com. (We will use your first and last name from your profile.)
Trusted Commenting: Facebook connected users automatically become trusted commenters.

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 11:03 a.m.

Under SB13, introduced by Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, people who send unsolicited computer e-mail advertisements could be fined $10 per message.

An Assembly amendment allows the $10 fine only if the ad isn't readily identifiable as an ad. The ad must also include the name and address of the advertiser and a notice telling e-mail users that they can elect not to get similar ads in the future.

SB13 was introduced to deal with complaints from e-mail service subscribers who say they are forced to spend expensive log-on time reading the ads.

But numerous advertisers and Internet lawyers have said the measure violates constitutional rights of free speech and commerce. Others claim the chaotic nature of the Internet will make the bill impossible to enforce.

Gary Peck, state director of the American Civil Liberties Union, has even predicted that Nevada courts would be deluged with lawsuits from Internet service providers and companies that advertise by e-mail.

The bill, already approved by the Senate, returns there for concurrence in the Assembly amendment. Once that happens, it can go to Gov. Bob Miller for his signature.