Paparazzi Driving Law Upheld

A three-judge appeals court panel has upheld California’s newest anti-paparazzi law that targets reckless drivers who are taking photos, video, or audio for commercial purposes. The court found that the law is not vague, and does not unduly burden the rights of newsgatherers, as the law’s opponents claimed. The ruling came in relation to the case against photographer Paul Raef, who was charged under the law after engaging in a high-speed pursuit of Justin Bieber in 2012. “One person’s paparazzi is another person’s mainstream photographer,” said Jean-Paul Jassey, the lawyer representing several media outlets. “The law’s only contribution to the vehicle code is to enhance penalties for photography. Photography is not a crime.”