One has to wonder if any of these individuals can actually visit their mom and with confidence and pride state what they did that day. Every fiber in my body would be disgusted with myself if I behaved that way. And yet they do it day-in and day-out. Shoving their ever flashing cameras in peoples face, blocking their access/right of way, shouting at them continually and other just plain rude actions. They do it for a living, which is REALLY sad. The other position is that there is a market for it. I don't buy or even browse tabloids, nor watch ET, TMZ, etc. I do watch awards shows and the actual work these celebrities appear on, but that's it. I don't need to see them eating, shopping, arriving at the airport, walking down a street, sunbathing on a beach, etc etc etc etc etc. If there was not a market for it, the paparazzi would have no reason to take the photos/video. Unfortunately, there are many in America that just can't get enough of it. So, shame on both sides. The general population that demands (by act of purchase) these invasive photos and the paprazzi for going to extremes to take them.

It should be illegal to take someone's photo without their permission. Period. Everyone should have the basic right that when they step out in public they shouldn't have to worry about someone taking their photo without asking first.

The paparazzi are absolute leeches and vermin. They not only hassle celebrities mercilessly, but they also endanger the public with their actions. I encountered them at a restaurant where Jackie Chan was eating and one of them literally sat in my dinner in order to get a picture of Jackie. What's even worse is that Jackie had just ordered his dinner and had to leave because they were just unreal. Their actions cost the restaurant, made my meal completely unenjoyable, and I am sure, by the look on his face, that Jackie was not happy at all.

This new law is a good start but I do believe the key is going to be enforcement of the law. Either way, congrats to yourselves and state of California for taking action against these people.

Your proposed legislation is going to put a lot of freeelance photographers and photographic artist out of business. Additionally you violate the intent of the constitution. What I see is anothere socialist effort to reduce the rights of those who are trying to earn a living. I will say this though, there are paps that go way too far in getting images to sell.

If I have to go through a background check for a business license you are violating my right to privacy. Not there is anything to hide, yet, when did being a photographer working on the street become a national security risk or other lower level risk.

A lot if thee issues regarding the pap and how they operate can be addressed by current laws, it has never been okay to drive a vehicle with out a plate unless it was brand new off a lot. used cars have plates with a temp doc displayed.

I drive every day and i see more violations of traffic law than can be enforced. You will take law enforcement away from what theye really need to be doing.

You legislation will drive more jobs away from southern california to other states. Why do you think the stae is going bankrupt? This is another bigger government bill that will take more money out of my pocket.

In France no one can publish a picture of your face without your authorization. It's a basic right here. Paparazzi must pay if they are caught and can get one year of prison : it's quite deterrent and the movies stars are much more quiet (sorry for my english)

one day i went to hollywood and i spotted lindsay lohan i went up to her and started to talk to her then all of a sudden maby about 20 paparazzi pushed me out of the way to get pictures of her i didnt know what was going on but there was so many i got mad because they interupted or coversation plus they were giving her a hard time i told one of them off but nothing happend they kept doing it same thing with robert poor boy they didnt ask for this

I am glad someone is trying to do something about these parasites---or as I call them papasites. It hurts to watch them as the maliciously stalk, terrorize, invade the privacies and almost paralyze stars. It's insane,and it has to stop-----NOW! If the average person were to do this-we'd be jail--what protects these maggots.? They get pictures that have no news value whatever-so why do they persist in antagonizing these people. I'd love to form a group with cameras to do the exact same thing to them so they could see how annoying and scary they are. Follow them everywhere they go-families included. I will NOT buy or watch any paps related %%$%. I just want to see my stars safe and unabashed by these freaks of nature, A law has to passed AND enforced------someone is going to get hurt one day from one of these nuts. Look at Di------------never convince me it wasn't the paps Does it take another one before they see the light and do something. Please advise me as to what I can do about helping. Thank God someone is trying to get something done. I've harped on this for the last three years and it gets worse. It scares me.This crap of stars wanting this is insane-----Yes there are a few who crave it, but most detest this and just because they are in the limelight does NOT mean everyone wants to know when someone eats, takes a drive, goes to a concert or anything about their private lives--no ones business,and if people who think they do need to know-----God bless them, what a horribly empty no life they have. GET A LIFE-----------lay off the stars. Know what PAPS is in my book? POP A PAP. Yeah knock em down--if not physically------by law. They have become vultures and the feeding frenzy has to stop.Thanks for letting me rant.This is something high on my list of needing changes--ASAP.

so the threshold for offense is assault, trespass and soon-to-be "false imprisonment" wow, could the bar be set any lower?

if I were a celebrity I'd feel mighty comforted by that! i'm sure anyone would be comforted to know that harassment, stalking, intrusion, taunting, chasing -- are all seemingly ok.

ugh! is that the best we can do? is there no dignity and civility left toward those who give us so much entertainment? i guess it's a start -- but so much more needs to be done.

shame, shame. california.

FROM THE PRI: Thanks for your thoughts, Maggie. We concur which is exactly why this organization was put together. We are the source for a bill authored this year by California Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass which included amending the stalking statute which would have helped celebrities defend themselves from aggressive paparazzi and was supported by the domestic violence community as it would have benefited their victims as well. However, that amendment was opposed vigorously by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), a very powerful lobby organization in California, and with their opposition, defeat was probable. As the bill stands now with the stalking amendment language removed, if it passes when voted upon in August, "false imprisonment" will be added to the California privacy law which is the same law that was amended successfully last year. It is a tough playing field out there. We welcome your ideas and help as we continue to move forward putting effective solutions in place to tame the aggressive paparazzi.

FROM MAGGIE: Thanks for the added info PRI. So the Motion Picture Association of America opposed a proposed stalking statute. Unbelievable. I guess that means money trumps civility, dignity and human decency yet again. More shame, California. All the best PRI. This reader surely appreciates your efforts!

This is a good start, but I fear it will be basically ineffective with fines such as $400 when a photo might garner thousands or hundreds of thousands. The negative reinforcements (fines, punishment) have to be of more value than the positive reinforcement (pay for the photos), or else the offense will be worth the risk.
Claims that artists 'need' these photos for their careers, that the paparazzi 'make' their careers and bring them their box office success and salaries, or that people view them only after feeling connected to them after seeing photos of their private lives, is not only demeaning, but utterly false. And the rationalization that with this economy we cannot do anything that would cause loss of jobs!!!!!--- Beyond repuslive!!!

FROM THE PRI: Hi Solas. In California we have a law that when a paparazzo commits assault or trespasses to get a photo, they not only have the money they made off the photo taken away from them, but they are penalized up to three times general and special damages, and may be liable for punitive damages. In addition, any media organization that purchases that photo with knowledge that the photo was taken illegally can be fined up to $50,000. The current bill waiting for a vote in the California Senate will add "false imprisonment" to the list of actionable offenses to this law. Thanks for your comments.

I'm happy to see a legislative effort in this area. I'm sure most people would agree that there is nothing wrong with photographer's carrying on their business in a dignified way, doing what they were hired to do. But there is a fine line that gets crossed when you are stalking someone, chasing them with your car, preventing them from physically moving and so on. Celebrities are human, they are simply people in the public eye. That doesn't make them open for harrassment because of their career choice. If I were driving erratically down the highway chasing after someone, the police are going to stop me. Why is it that because someone has a camera around their neck and the person being chased is a celebrity so that makes it okay? It isn't! Photographers, take your pictures and be done with it. Why the following? Why the stalking outside someone's house or in front of their car so they can't even leave. I agree it's not just the paps that need regulating, but it has to start there because that is where the physical harm is stemming from.

Paparazzi are a scourge. How can someone even contemplate making their living in such a base and disrespectful way? Lowlife is what springs to my mind!

Dignity, respect and civil treatment shouldn't stop just because someone is a celebrity and some idiot Pap needs to make a buck. And to hide behind "freedom of the press" or the current legislation that basically says that as long as you don't physically threaten or harm it's ok to harass -- is just plain ridiculous. Paps are NOT press. Paps are not journalists. Constant hounding, hassassment, stalking, taunting, invasion of personal space can certainly cause psychological harm just as potent as physical harm.

Paps are scum. Paps need to get a REAL job. Make an honourable living - one that demonstrates respect for the dignity and worth of human beings.

And police need legislative teeth to intervene. Write to the Governor and demand action.

Put a stop to harassment of celebrities!

Married to a paparazzi, I can see both sides of the story. We are both educated and have experience in what is call "real journalism." My husband expanded into the field about 5 years ago and I was anti this career path at the time, however after I have learned more about how things work I have come to see that it is not all what the anti-paparazzi people say that it is.

There have been times that there is an agreement with the photographer and the celebrity to shoot the photos. However people on the street are unaware of this arraignment and yell terrible things to the photographers. I have been shock at what comes out of peoples mouth. Every day my husband is harassed by people on the street simply because he has a camera around his neck he may not even be taking photos. Many photographers are just taking a photo not insulting people they are shooting. I do believe that there are some agencies that go too far however that is not the norm. The abnormal is pointed out and played over and over again for the public. I am not saying this to gain sympathy just to point out that it is not an easy job. They have the work life span of 5 to 10 years simply because the stress of the job.

I don't see any D-listers as the driving force for this cause. So let me ask a question if there were no paps would A-list celebrities make multimillion dollars at the box office? I believe no. People go to movies because they feel some connection to the star and want to know about their life. Some people may not feel that way but it is true. D-listers don't generally get photographed unless they are a current news story and they are not making as much money.

I do agree with a registering and getting credential. There are many illegals in the state of California that are doing this job and have escalated the craziness that we have see over the years. I think that alone will change the face of the paparazzi not adding the extra laws and regulation.

As it stands now I believe this legislation will destroy thousands of jobs and extra income for photographers, everyone that work at tabloids, and those that get paid to help with information. This is a web I would not want to unravel at a time when our country is already economic unstable.

hello

Upload the photo like "mugshots of 17 paparazzi" on http://www.paparazzi-reform.org/legal/
you lose all credibility, you made the link to a site pro-paparrazi (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/index.html) in a topic that you consider as legal.

Furthermore, the investigation has proved nothing of the guilt of the paparazzi, and as the presumption of innocence in my country as in yours, in the penal code that you break it.

Yes I think some paparazi go too far, but unfortunately the "stars" they need it.

In my country there is however a very interesting law that protects privacy: it is allowed to photograph anyone in a public place, but it is prohibited to publish, magazines are often doomed.

regards

This is such an excellent idea and movement. My thoughts are that there is too much obsession by the media about the celebrities and including children is so totally over the line. In the respect to privacy even journalists ask questions that I, like the majority of the public, ask personal questions of the celeb that I don't care about. I really don't care about the personal life of a public figure, not their marriage status, or not, not their dating life, or not, not their color skin, religipn or gender. I look at their work -- that is what I want to see. A short interview in a promo of a film or concert or play great! The standard exercised by the media of all kinds of not the public's standard -- perhaps it is time to take a poll and see what the public REALLY cares about -- and even though the public back lash of Tiger Woods was remarkable "news" -- guess what -- a few short stories without all the mass coverage would have been fine -- can we the public really know what the truth is -- for example with his story -- so why print speculation on talk shows, magazines, etc... it is not news it is not gossip is not first amendment it is falsehoods -- the public gets it -- I read the junk magazines for "fiction" I don't trust much of anything that is printed even on People Magazine -- so that is my vote and if there were a forum I would respond accordingly... don't ask say Michael Jackson why his skin is white or his grieving brothers if their was jealous -- really the public doesn't care -- the polls would support this kinds of persuasion and with children being pushed into the scene -- it is totally unacceptable -- and finally the Princess Dianna story should have demonstrated that misconeuct by the press is not supported under the First Amendment...

Best of luck,
-k

Reform is not only needed in our media but a but a neccesity. Many entertainers have been victimized by not only the papparazzi but many other media powerhouses. It has become acceptable for these media types to hound people in efforts to sell pictures, or "news stories," fact is often times these photos, videos, and press it not for any releavant news story. More often than not these photos are used for degrading and rumor filled headlines in tabloid journalism. Often times the stories printed are full of lies and deciet and can damage not only a persons reputation but in some cases damages much more than just that entertainers reputation, Britney Spears, Kobe Byrant, Michael Jackson, and now even the kids of Michael Jackson suffer from these attacks by members of the media. They are not the only ones either their are many many more. I am sure we all are aware of the tragic story of Princess Diana. The papparazzi not in to provide real life news that is relevant and factual they are in it simply for money and could careless about who gets hurt in the process.

The sad fact is that reform is not only needed in the paperazzi but is needed in almost every major media outlet. Our media has damaged people, by spreading of lies, rumors and controversies and have done it to make a quick buck regardless to truth, regardless to the facts. They are relentless and they have no discrimination about who they make targets, children are not safe from these attacks. People have died, been harassed, careers ruined and controversies ramped all because the media has elected money over truth. It is very tragic and reform is needed. The paperazzi is a good place to start but if we limit them we have to put limits on our entire media process, new is news but rumors, lies and speculations have no place in journalism, (Real Journalism)

Many people have taken an active role in putting an end to lies, rumors, controversies and yellow journalism, for more information please visit http://official-mj-tribute-book.socialgo.com/

Author Shawn Henning

Our Voice Will Be Heard

Many celebs or their publicists leak the details of their movements to paps. Some celebs need or want the publicity. Let's never forget that. Then maybe try blaming the buyers of celebrity magazines or the publishers of those mgazines. Solely blaming the paparazzi is ill-considered.

It should illegal to photograph and publish pictures of minor children without parents consent. That should be next. My skin crawls when I see them run pictures of the little kids. Look at kate's daughter in that video. No child should have to go through that. Even if mom is famous. Period !

Most paparazzi know very little about the celebrities they are photographing, and most who snap pics if them trying to go about their daily lives have no newsworthy topic to report. As we should never let the truth stand in the way of a good story, a completely fabricated story often accompanies the shots.
Unfortunately all this insanity is esentially driven by the consumer of the glossy tabloids that capture their interests with headlines of their favorite celebs.
"Has Kate fallen off the wagon?" "Is Joel doin the dirty on Nicole?" "Should Madonna dress her age?" "Will there be wedding bells for Mandy?" etc, etc...
Most consumers dont give any thought to the length of harassment their idols have had to indure when they flip through the pages.
They are paying for the right to be lied to and treated like complete morons when they buy these tabloid based magazines & newspapers. They also pay for the privilege of having their most valued and respected artists treated like caged animals.
I strongly encourage everybody who respects or appreciates any celebrity to boycott the tabloid industry and start supporting the tallent of their favorite stars instead.
Buy the album or the movie ticket - not the magazine!

I am just shocked at how some people turn into mental cases over a celebrity !! It is just another human being, so they made some movies. Hell I've been thinking that Johnny Depp is one of the most amazing actors for the last 30 years but I wouldn't run and chase him or hide behind a garbage can stalking waiting to pounce and snap and flash at him just so I can sell this picture of him putting out the trash. What has the world come to..this viscuous cycle of the 'Paparats taking the pictures to the people who buy and print to the public who buys these invasions of privacy. If I want to know what Russell Brand does at home..just ask him, I'm sure if he wants you to know he'll tell you ! And did the world not learn anything from the Paparats that chased Princess Diana to her Death!!!!!! all for a shot of her .
The minute a person signs a movie contract does not make them no longer human, in fact thier world shrinks constantly..so the more they can seem to have a normal life the better.
They are not property
No one owns them
they give their image to the screen, to the stage, and yes some of them crave attention...but it still doesn't make it ok for the behaviour that goes on.
Does it really matter to the big picture of life? NO.
Maybe the wave of the future will be, magazines ask celebrities to do layouts for them and then if the star doesn't need the money give the money made to a charity!,
We will never stop people wanting to know, but we must change the way it is done, the new age of technology makes everyone have the possiblity to become a 'paparat' now that every cell phone takes pictures with instant connection to the internet..
Stop and think...
and remember

Be the Change you want to see in the World. Gandhi

A Candle looses nothing by lighting another candle....Erin Majors

there is only one person you can change yourself but you can inspire others LunaJune

Great site. In my job I service celebrities and really if someone cares about them - then what they should care about is for them to have a peaceful happy life so they can be at their creative best. And that is done by respecting their privacy which they have a right to just like anyone else.

Excellent to have this site! I hope that many people support you and this can expand!

Perhaps a California Proposition should go on the ballot to make especially airports a pap free zone. I know that I'd sign something like that.

Do we as the public really care that much about the lives of celebrities that we don't mind that they are harassed and sometimes abused just to give us what the Paparazzi think we want??? I know I don't...I want to watch a good movie, hear a good song, see a great performance...dream a little. About their personal and private life ...I really don't care! leave them alone! we forget that at the end of the day they are only humans, people just like us.

Great site. Reform is definitely needed in this area. With all that is happening in America today it is not surprising to see this sort of pure greed and "me-first" mentally being demonstrated by the paparazzi. Perhaps when we return to the days of respect, decency and care for our fellow man and demonstrate true manners this sort of activity will no longer be tolerated.