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Domain: state.tx.us

Stories and comments across the archive that link to state.tx.us.

Comments · 556

  1. Public Records by akey · · Score: 3 · on Your (Australian) Criminal Record Online

    In the USA, I believe that many states make criminal and court records to be public records. In the state of Texas, you can look up criminal records (for a small fee) or sex offender information (for free). There is a disclaimer on the site warning about trying to use information based solely upon a person's name. Personally, I believe that court records should be a matter of public record.

    ---

  2. Re:this is a tough call to make by deacent · · Score: 1 · on Analyzing the Real Impact of Taxing E-Commerce
    The usage tax tends to vary a little from state to state. Naturally, states with no sales tax don't have usage tax (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon), so it's moot there. I do know from my own experience and through the experience of others that Connecticut, New York, and California want you to pay it when you do your income tax.

    In the case of Texas (one of the states with usage tax but no income tax), they have a form that you fill out and send in for the next tax period. Tax periods for Texas begin on the first of January, April, July, and October.

    Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyomng also have no state income tax. If you're in any of these states, I would check with the agency that handles the sales tax for your state. Most, if not all, states have a state government web site that can be found at http://www.state.xx.us where xx is the state postal abbreviation. Many states have the tax information and forms on their site. Some even let you handle this electronically, if you trust that sort of thing.

    -Jennifer

  3. A Freedom of Information Act Issue? by Ravenfeather · · Score: 4 · on The USPS-Selling Zip Codes or Public Information?

    What an interesting question! I am not a lawyer, but this seems like it might fall under the Freedom of Information act.

    For a bit of background, I quote from one of the government's own web sites on the Act.

    The right of the public to obtain information held by the Federal Government is summarized in a report published by the U.S. House of Representatives, entitled "A Citizens Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records" (H.Rpt. 102-146), as follows:

    The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) establishes a presumption that records in the possession of agencies and departments of the Executive Branch of the United States government are accessible to the people. This was not always the approach to federal information disclosure policy. Before enactment of the FOIA in 1966, the burden was on the individual to establish a right to examine these government records. There were no statutory guidelines or procedures to help a person seeking information. There were no judicial remedies for those denied access. With the passage of the FOIA, the burden of proof shifted from the individual to the government. Those seeking information are no longer required to show a need for information. Instead, the "need to know" standard has been replaced by a "right to know" doctrine. The government now has to justify the need for secrecy.
    The FOIA sets standards for determining which records must be disclosed and which records can be withheld. The law also provides administrative and judicial remedies for those denied access to records. Above all, the statute requires federal agencies to provide the fullest possible disclosure of information to the public.
    [ The emphasis is my own. ]
  4. Re:uhm, we sort of like, need the moon, and stuff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Plan for Privately-Funded Moon Base
    Ahem yourself. You realize exactly how big the Earth is? We're only using 2% of Earth for farming, and that's less than 10% of how much could be farmed. And that's ignoring an increase in arable land by building food farms on non-arable land or covering non-arable land with more dirt (from Earth or asteroid soil).

    Population? The entire population of Earth can fit in Texas: 6 billion people divided by ( 261,914 square miles times the number of square feet in a square mile (5,280*5,280) ). Drive a quarter of the way to the next major city. You'll see a few people on the highway with you, surrounded by miles and miles of land with no people on it...unless you're someplace crowded like BosWash.

  5. Exempt only in practice now by grouse · · Score: 1 · on Ask Slashdot: e-Commerce, Taxes & Private Transactions.

    Baseball cards or a garage band CD have only been exempt from sales tax in practice. Of course, laws vary by state. In Texas, anyone who sells taxable items more than twice a year needs to collect tax, even if they are just baseball cards (Texas Tax Code 151.008). You may have your own opinion on whether this is a good idea or not, but taxing them on the Internet would not be infringing on some previously exempt category.

  6. Points? by puterGeezer · · Score: 1 · on E-Paying Speeding Tickets
    In Texas we don't need no steenkeeng points!

    Speed, pay, repeat as necessary.