California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new bill into law on Thursday that would give paparazzi who drive recklessly jail time. Paparazzi who interfere with the operation of a celebrity’s car can receive a fine of $5,000 and one year imprisonment.
“We’re hoping this new law will prevent serious injuries, and even deaths, to both celebrities and innocent bystanders.” Sean Burke, founder and CEO of the Paparazzi Reform Initiative, said in a statement.
California Newspaper Publishers Association opposed the bill and stated it was too far reaching and could violate the “First Amendment” rights of journalists. Reckless driving and trespassing already are illegal, so singling out photographers for special prosecution is an affront to the 1st Amendment, argued the California Newspaper Publishers Assn.
“Some artists fear there is going to be a terrible accident,” Bass said at the time. “This is certainly no attempt to regulate the press.”
How do you feel about this? Is this a much needed new law or do you feel that photographers are being singled out?
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22 Responses to Gov Schwarzenegger Signs Anti-Paparazzi Bill
This is a law that needs to be passed throughout the country in my opinion. It should have been done a long time ago and hopefully other states will follow with similar laws.
I am bringing over part of a comment I made on another thread on this site because it’s so fitting here.
“The media though also needs to be held accountable for the bullying that members of the media do through their words and pictures. The attacks by the media on children or an individual child has been steadily on the rise, especially children of celebrities.
Perfect example this week alone. INF took some photos of the Gosselin children being picked up by Jon from school. The writer in the article made some snarky remarks about what the children were wearing and particularly singled out Mady for wearing some white heels. Personally I saw nothing wrong with it and I thought the shoes were adorable. Kids are growing up quicker these days whether we like it or not. This was so horrible for any writer of the media to attack children with snarky remarks let alone attack an individual child by name is something so shocking that words can’t describe my horror at such a thing. I would encourage everyone to email INF and voice your displeasure for attacking a child like this by any writer or any media outlet. Can you imagine what it would be like for a mother, father or the grandparents & other family members of a child/children if you saw a picture like that and then the writers words about the child or children would just tear your heart out? Then to pour salt into the wounds the unkind words left in the form of comments on the article. Honestly it sickened me to my very soul.”
In my opinion for any member of the media whether through photos or words on children and those children’s names are used should be held accountable for what they put out in the media. They should not be allowed to get away with this. Just maybe this type of thing needs to be part of any state’s child protection laws.
ITA Gammy. This relentless bullying of children online must stop. I don’t know how you would go about crafting a law to prevent INF from snarking on a child’s shoes. It’s amazing to me that we would even have to think about it! What adult does not know that is morally reprehensible and socially unacceptable? Is it socially unacceptable? Really, what is wrong with these people?
Over and over I have read that if you “put yourself out there” you are fair game for criticism and hounding by paparazzi, having tabloids or ordinary citizens print lies about you. No, I disagree. If you allow TLC to film your family for money, then only TLC has a right to film your family. No family member has a moral right to accuse you of cheating just to sell a tabloid interview. No couch potato “television consumer” has a moral right to lie about your life, your motives, your body. No unlicensed counselor has a moral right to accuse you of child abuse. None. It may be legal, but it’s wrong every time.
I agree with all above comments on this subject. This type of law needs to be passed nationwide and go even further regarding children. And it needs to apply to ANY type of ‘celebrity’……entertainment, reality, political and even Joe Blo on the street, who’s not a ‘celebrity’. They have to get releases signed to show someone’s face on tv, why can they show them in print and get away with it?? There is no excuse whatsoever for the paps to be allowed to get away with what they are getting away with. If it interferes with their ‘job’ as a voyeur, too bad……let them get a legitimate job that does no harm.
Ann@IW- I thoroughly agree with you in rejecting the “they asked for it” defense. Quite frankly that smacks of the old slur of only virgins can be raped. Also, I’m tired of seeing celebrities accused of hit and run when the “victim” has knowingly put themselves in the path of a moving vehicle in order to get a photo of the oocupant(s). As for getting out, how does a celebrity know if a pap is actually hurt or just crying wolf to get the celebrity out of the car? Also, getting out in one of those mobs looks physically dangerous. I can’t imagine trying to drive under those circumstances. It’s even worse when there are children in the car. Whatever the parents have chosen to do with their lives, the kids haven’t made that choice. Haters try to make it something against Kate Gosselin, when Collin covers his face when he’s around paps. When I’ve seen a video it strikes me how noisy and intrusive the cameras are and, if flash is being used, downright blinding. In the scene in the first special, when the crew returned Collin was relaxed and excited and told one of the crew how happy he was that the paparazzi were gone & it was back to normal (I guess they can ignore Chris). Collin made it very clear that his objection was specifically to the paparazzi.
Decades ago, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was able to get an injunction forcing Ron Galella to keep a specific distance away from her and her then minor children. He could still get photos but he couldn’t get in their faces or potentially jeopardize their safety.
Living in Los Angeles seeing celebrities or atheletes is just a part of your life. There were many famous actors, musicians, and producers children in everything from my Son’s Little League Teams to Pop Warner Football, and also in his High School. I see celebrities when I am shopping at the grocery store but I would never in a million years take their picture and get paid for it. I just watched the documentary “Teenage Papparazo” about a fourteen year old “papparazi” photographer in L.A, who is homeschooled and with his parents approval spends his days chasing celebrity photos and making $1000′s for each photo. This is really sick! The whole celebrity culture is really sick and it seems like a co-dependent relationship between the celebrities and the paprazzi! It seems like people are famous for just being “famous” and accomplishing nothing!
Well the Teenage Papparazo is going to have his own reality show!
Ann I wasn’t just thinking about the Gosselin children either. I remember several articles that were written by the media and photos taken of little Suri, Angelina and Brad Pitt’s little girl. The articles were very unkind and were very critical of the parents allowing this young child to wear little heels. Is that anyone else’s business except the parents for making decisions about their children and what they wear? I don’t think so and to pointedly create a whole article criticizing the parents and to use the child’s name in the articles along with photos just hit me as being so very wrong. If people were really concerned about child protection they should raise up their voices and not just talk but do something about this to prevent these kinds of stories being allowed by the media.
Well Holly I don’t know what network put that show Teenage Paparazzi on the air but I will choose to pass on watching it by choice because I am shocked that this boy’s parents would encourage this in my opinion “peeping Tom” behavior. Just like I don’t personally agree with the whole premise of “Sisters Wives” rather then even voice my personal opinion about it I just chose to not watch it. What I’ll never understand is these so called “hate blogs” devoted to hating on a celebrity. If you don’t like the show or your don’t approve of it, then change the channel and choose to not watch it but to make it your “life” complaining about it and criticizing it or the people on the show is so insane when it’s so much simpler to just turn the channel and not watch it. Geez we have so many channels to choose from today there is no reason to rag on and on about a show you don’t choose to watch or maybe it conflicts with your moral background.
Holly said…”The whole celebrity culture is really sick and it seems like a co-dependent relationship between the celebrities and the paparazzi! It seems like people are famous for just being “famous” and accomplishing nothing!” I have to disagree with your comment here. You could probably count on one hand the number of celebrities that actually like or don’t mind the paparazzi. In fact there have been thousands of lawsuits filed against the paps and the media for invading the privacy of a celebrity or the family of a celebrity or writing lies and slander about them or the people in their lives. The majority of the celebrities absolutely hate the paps but they have had to pick and choose their battles with them because if they were to sue every one that invades their privacy they would spend their whole lives in the court system so most of the big name celebrities (Oprah for instance) have even publicly stated you have to pick and choose your battles.
Yes there are a few and it’s an extremely small number of celebrities that like the paps and engage them. The one that stands out the most for me is Spencer and Heidi Pratt. That couple lives for the paps and attention from the media. There is another male celebrity that I feel loves the paps but I’ll pass on mentioning his name because most of us know who that is already.
While I can understand the law, many celebrities call the paps so their pictures are in the news. They call them to say which club or party they are going to be at, so that the press is there.
The documentary which was made by Adrian Grenier of Entourage was on HBO. I agree there is something wrong with the parents, especially the Mother, for encouraging her Son to pursue this lifestyle. Just from the looks of it, it seemed like the Mother enjoyed being in front of the camera as much as the Son.
In terms of a “co-dependent” relationship between the celebrities and the papparazi, what I meant by that was don’t go to the Newsroom Cafe or The Ivy or even The Grove if you don’t want to be filmed by the papparazi! These vultures hang out there just looking for an opportunity, so if you don’t want to be photgraphed pick another place to go.
Stop watching these crap shows and stop buying the tabloid crap and the pap industry will dwindle.
What are “crap shows” and who decides what is a “crap show”?
Come on Pam….I know you TIVO Jersey Shore !!!!
I have never seen that show. I am kind of starting to get into Hoarders. Does that count as a “crap show”?
Ann, I am chiming in late, but your post #3 was brilliant and said everything I wanted to say.
I am very glad to see this law was passed and think it is much more important and far-reaching than any pending legislation going on in PA (that some TV consumers from MS and OH thought it important enough to leave their young children to attend).
Stu, I do agree that those who click on the stories and pictures are a big part of the problem. That said, I have to step in and defend Pam’s honor –she does NOT watch Jersey Shore.
Hoarders…..That show is all about crap !
Generally I am not in favor of laws that target particular groups – if something is a problem and/or illegal it’s generally covered by existing laws. That said, I find paparazzi disgusting and without redeeming qualities. I think they do represent a threat to public safety and am in favor of legislation that deals with the dangers they present.
Amen, Jennie. There are laws that exist that DO make what the pondscum of a profession will come up w. to make a fast buck…ILLEGAL. What goes to the heart of the matter for me – minor children should NOT be published, PERIOD. I should think that enough rags pay huge amounts for those exclusives already.
I have to laugh at my own word…’pondscum’ for me is not limited to the paps, but MANY of those ‘celebrities’ who endanger themselves, as well as their own family & friends by their brainless decisions. Look at Lohan & what this ‘kid’ has done…& the paps should be fined & jailed? Hmmmm?
This week the Supreme Court will be taking up 1st Ammendment rights in various areas…we should all be concerned as to what may be at risk.
Most of the time Politicians pass new laws to look IMPORTANT. Like Jennie said, most laws exist already….we just need to enforce them.
If the law is just for creating a traffic hazard w/their cars, it seems unnecessary to me. I don’t think they’ll ever quit taking pics of kids and it’s just part of being a celebrity. There should be some sense of privacy and safety in one’s own home whether you’re an adult or a child. That’s such an invasion.
Most of the time Politicians pass new laws to look IMPORTANT. Like Jennie said, most laws exist already….we just need to enforce them.-stu
Boy, do I agree with that! I wish they’d take down all those signs posted at curves telling me what speed to go around a bend in the road. One law, “Drive at a safe speed,” would suffice. They are ridiculous. I live in a place with winding country roads. The only redeeming value to these 5-second temporary speed limits for just 10 yards of the road is to give the inmates something to make. I think.
Wouldn’t it be great if we only had a sssion of the legislature every three years or so? They’d have to get real jobs instead of campiagning for a living!
Its ridiculous that this kind of harassment has been allowed this long. Sometimes they are so surrounded they Can hardly get into their cars. Its absurd. I understand why some Celebs snap and strike back.