Quote :

"L.A. Lawmaker Proposes Anti-Paparazzi 'Safety Zone' Law LOS ANGELES — A city councilman on Friday proposed an ordinance to create a buffer zone between celebrities and the paparazzi who often swarm around them. Councilman Dennis Zine said the measure would require several feet of space between photographers and celebrities to ensure a "personal safety zone." "This is about common decency," Zine said following a City Council meeting. "We don't want to put the media out of business, but there has to be some reason when they do their job." Zine's motion proposing the ordinance said the buffer space must be big enough to allow cars and people to pass safely. It did not specify what penalties, if any, someone would face if someone violated the measure. Last month, Britney Spears was taken from her home by paramedics amid a frenzy of photographers who crowded and chased the ambulance. This week she was again hospitalized, but a phalanx of police vehicles and a helicopter escorted the ambulance. The motion notes that the paparazzi "are becoming increasingly aggressive in their tactics, posing a clear danger not only to the people they are trying to photography, but to the general public around them." "It has gotten outrageous," Zine said of the intense media coverage of celebrities. "If we don't do anything, we could see someone seriously injured or killed." Pamm Fair, the deputy national executive director of the Screen Actors Guild, said the organization supports such an ordinance. She said there has been a growing concern by SAG members about the conduct of the tabloid press. "I think there is a difference between taking a photo and getting in someone's face and ambushing them," Fair said. "We fully support this effort. Whatever we can do to create a safe environment for our members, their children and residents of this city." The measure could resemble one that was enacted during the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles where protesters were kept away from entrances into Staples Center. Because the city adopted that policy, Zine believes his proposal would pass legal muster. A phone message left with the American Civil Liberties Union was not immediately returned. Zine's motion asks the city attorney and police officials to propose new restrictions on paparazzi to be discussed at the City Council's Public Safety Committee hearing in coming weeks, where photographers as well as actors could testify. Zine said he hoped it will win council approval and take effect in about six months. An "anti-stalkerazzi" law went into effect in California two years ago that increased penalties against photographers who impeded celebrities or were responsible for car accidents. Photographers are liable for three times the damages they inflict, plus lose any payments their published photos might earn."

I know it's important that we protect the members of the "Film Actors Guild", but c'mon.
They're in the business of achieving fame. They spend every waking moment trying to get the public to pay attention to them. When the fame gets to be too much, we have to pass a law to suppress it for them?

This law would elevate a celebrity's privacy desires into law, a new privilage not extended to the average Joe. The 30 yard safety bubble is only for Britney and her ilk.

There are enough people who want to see pictures of self-destructing Hollywood types to keep the demand high for these photos. If this law passes, that demand will still be there, and like any high-demand product that is banned or controlled, the value and danger will go up in providing it.

Just like immigration, I suspect there are already laws in California that maintain order on the public roads, they just aren't being followed by the police.

2/22/2008 11:21:02 AM

there are lots of celebrities who don't garner photographers everywhere they go and are plenty famous. i wonder what the difference between them and britney is. . . hmm. . .

2/22/2008 11:23:18 AM

I don't see a problem with making photographers take their distance. From what I've heard they cause TONS of accidents because of the way they handle things.

2/22/2008 11:28:52 AM

^ for that reason I also don't have a problem with the law, although I have nothing but contempt for celebrities.

2/22/2008 11:37:54 AM

I don't see a problem with making photographers take their distance.

CNN footage of how hundreds of photogs mob her everywhere she goes is appalling.

2/22/2008 11:41:40 AM

So everyone is OK with a law that specifically protects celebrities from photographers, but no one else? ..on public-financed roads with taxes paid in part by both celebrities and the paparazzi.

What about heat-seeking press agent who "leaks" when their celebrity client will be out and about? Will they be selectively loooking for application of this law when it suits their needs?

The safety issue is a smoke-screen, I'll bet there are already traffic laws that are designed to prevent road-clogging accidents.

2/22/2008 11:48:02 AM

I think everyone should be protected equally. That doesn't mean I don't recognize the fact that *I* will never be swarmed by the paparazzi and could care less if this law covers me or not.

2/22/2008 11:52:19 AM

Paparazzi = internet trolls of the real world. I have no problem with a law that protects celebrities from them. Not all celebrities ask to be famous.

2/22/2008 11:59:56 AM

Quote :

"Last month, Britney Spears was taken from her home by paramedics amid a frenzy of photographers who crowded and chased the ambulance."

WTF

2/22/2008 12:01:06 PM

This law does protect everyone equally. If you need this law, you are a celebrity.

Anyway, since EarthDogg didn't post what site he stole this from, you can't really evaluate the law too much since we don't know exactly what it is.

2/22/2008 12:01:45 PM

Quote :

"They spend every waking moment trying to get the public to pay attention to them. When the fame gets to be too much, we have to pass a law to suppress it for them?"

i think that's a bit of an exaggeration to say that all celebrities spend "every waking moment trying to get the public to pay attention to them". It's human nature to want to be left alone at some times.

Quote :

"This law would elevate a celebrity's privacy desires into law, a new privilage not extended to the average Joe. The 30 yard safety bubble is only for Britney and her ilk."

Quote :

"So everyone is OK with a law that specifically protects celebrities from photographers, but no one else?"

I think the law should (if it doesn't already) apply equally to everyone. Who actually needs to make use of the law, though, is irrelevant to the purpose of the law itself.

2/22/2008 1:28:29 PM

If you haven't been to LA and witness the carnage the paparazzi leave in their wake you need to. If you are driving in a car that happens to be behind a celebrity, expect to be nearly ridden off the road.

This should be more of an issue of protecting the public from the paparazzi.

2/22/2008 1:34:03 PM

As long as they apply this to everyone, I don't think that there's any problem with it. That way, you don't have to sit there and try to define who a "celebrity" is. Especially in this day and age, any random person could become an instant celebrity in an instant, so why not protect them as well?

Could I use this to keep the press away if I were to become famous/infamous for committing a CNN worthy crime? Oh... that would be an interesting angle. Could you use this against the press? Like for example, when a person going to court is walking up the steps to his trial with the press trying to mob him?

2/22/2008 6:00:01 PM

would the white house press corps have to back off if the president is in town?

2/22/2008 6:04:34 PM

Quote :

"If we don't do anything, we could see someone seriously injured or killed "

this woman agrees:

2/22/2008 6:11:05 PM

HEY! I KNOW! Let's make more laws that are covered by existing laws.

2/22/2008 6:40:30 PM

How about making celebs actually accountable for the crimes they commit.

2/22/2008 6:46:03 PM

^^^
The word on the street is that the Royal family had her bumped off so she wouldn't father a would-be muslim king with Dodi.

Quote :

"Not all celebrities ask to be famous."

Huh? Getting famous is what brings you more money in the Hollywood game, doesn't it? Most of these actors and singers who are being chased once dreamed of the day they would get noticed by the masses. They couldn't have become celebrities if they didn't garner any attention.

Quote :

"It's human nature to want to be left alone at some times. "

True but part and parcel of a celebrity's job is attracting the attention of the masses. And they need to realize that if you create a demand for your image, it's hard to turn off that demand whenever it annoys you. That just goes with the turf of achieving fame. If you're a star and don't want your picture taken in public, stay home.

Quote :

"...expect to be nearly ridden off the road. "

Isn't there a law on the books already that makes getting ridden off the road a crime?

Quote :

"...have to sit there and try to define who a "celebrity" is."

Interesting point. What if some washed up actress gets mad when a lone photog snaps a pic of her for the "Where Are They Now" section? Can she use this law to prevent everyone from seeing it?

What's going to be the cut-off point for being a celebrity who gets protection under this law and everyone else? Will it go by how many films you've done? How many awards you've won? How many marriages you been through?

[Edited on February 22, 2008 at 6:57 PM. Reason : .]

2/22/2008 6:56:45 PM

Princess Di was going to father a child?

2/22/2008 7:13:58 PM

Quote :

"How about making celebs actually accountable for the crimes they commit."

while that is a good point, it's not at all relevant to the discussion at hand

2/22/2008 7:27:36 PM

FAIL

2/23/2008 12:24:34 PM

I think they should just change the law to where you can't sell/publish a photograph unless you have the consent of everyone in the photograph.

2/23/2008 10:24:55 PM

Quote :

"So everyone is OK with a law that specifically protects celebrities from photographers, but no one else?"

No. More legislation is not what this country needs at all.

2/24/2008 11:46:06 AM