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The California Highway Patrol have filed criminal charges against a paparazzo named Paul Raef who was involved in a high speed chase incident earlier this month with Justin Bieber. Mr Raef was charged with 4 counts of reckless driving. if convicted he could face up to one year in jail and $3500 in fines. As for Justin, he was cited for speeding and is schdeduled to appear in court in September. This is the first case filed under the new paparazzi law in California.
From Shaw News 26/07/2012
Apparently the paparazzi law allows the courts to add another layer of punishment onto the usual penalties for traffic violations.
Edited to add: whether it will a challenge under the first amendment is another matter. The scumbags who do this sort of thing ususally hide behind that to jsutify their actions.
There shouldn't be a second layer.
It's as if to say speeding to get to a movie in time isn't as bad as speeding as a pap. If the occupation isn't illegal it shouldn't be punished under other laws.
Speeding is speeding. The court will allow you to quote mitigating circumstances like medical emergencies. It's as if the state was full of rich Hollywood types with their own agenda...
Quote: It's as if the state was full of rich Hollywood types with their own agenda...
Now what on earth leads you to that conclusion, Chris? 
I agree with your comments on the twin approach to this - I am sure their reckless driving laws are severe enough and the circumstances of their breaking the laws (self profit, greed etc) would enable them to go straight to the severe end of the punishment.
Don't see why a new law needs to be added. Speeding to show off or get somewhere quicker is potentially just as dangerous. Some may say that if the Biebster didn't speed then the paps wouldn't need to .... so he is possibly equally responsible. Anyway, the paps break existing laws and can be dealt with effectively already. Maybe I'm just missing something here .. It all seems a little unecessary.
Quote: Paparazzi are NOT photographers, but leeches on society
What makes someone a photographer?
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/smash-his-camera-gast-40040.html
It isn't just speeding, it's chasing. You can say the person being chased creates the situation, but that's a croc of bullshit. If the pap didn't initiate the chase, the prey wouldn't have reason to speed. Of course, charge the person being chased because they were a danger to others and themselves; but surely any fool can see who the criminal is here. People die as a result of high speed chases, and many times it is some innocent bystander. I say throw the book at the pap and teach them a lesson.
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