Any Anti-(insert group's name here) Law is destine to fail. Why? Because you are trying to take a specific group's rights away. That doesn't mean that new laws can't help however. You just need to be talking to the right level of government and addressing specific public safety concerns.
Rather than thinking about what the State and Federal governments can do to help you, start talking to your local mayor or city counselor about what they can do for the community. Call them personally. No lawyers. No lobbyists. Just pick up the phone and call them. Perhaps invite them over for tea when you have 15 stalkerazzi staking out your house.
Why? So they can personally see what you and your neighbors go through, so they can consider the broader public safety implications.
The wonderful thing about Municipal Governments are that they can act quickly and decisively to address problems that affect our everyday lives. They may not be able to throw the paps in jail, but they can certainly give them a $500 fine for parking in a No Stopping/Permit Only zone outside your house.
Perhaps it's time you changed your frame of reference. Rather than thinking you have a paparazzi problem, look at it as your neighborhood has a parking problem. Rather than thinking you have a paparazzi problem, consider that it might be a crowd control/traffic problem. City Councilors can do wonders in these areas of the law (example).
Some ideas:
Judges aren't going to throw out municipal laws that address public safety issues. Get enough fines and don't pay them, you know where you end up. Is a paparazzo going to risk a $500 fine for a potential $150 photo?
Look. I don't pretend to be an expert on municipal law. I don't have all the answers. I do know that getting state and federal governments to move takes a lot of time and money. Even if you get a law passed, there are years of appeals. Perhaps you'll get a resolution when your kids are getting out of college. This is not true for municipal governments. City counselors want to help all local citizens. They have the power to help you.
Can I help you with this? No. I'm not trying to sell you anything. I don't have expertise or access. Even if I did, you don't need me. This is a simple thing to do. Pick up the phone. Write an email to your mayor/councillor. Call your local Airport authority and ask them why they don't have a separate drive-through entrance for high profile individuals to address public safety concerns.
We have all thought, "There should be a law against this" at one time or another. The key is knowing what laws to change, and what level of government is responsible for them.
Rather than thinking about what the State and Federal governments can do to help you, start talking to your local mayor or city counselor about what they can do for the community. Call them personally. No lawyers. No lobbyists. Just pick up the phone and call them. Perhaps invite them over for tea when you have 15 stalkerazzi staking out your house.
Why? So they can personally see what you and your neighbors go through, so they can consider the broader public safety implications.
The wonderful thing about Municipal Governments are that they can act quickly and decisively to address problems that affect our everyday lives. They may not be able to throw the paps in jail, but they can certainly give them a $500 fine for parking in a No Stopping/Permit Only zone outside your house.
Perhaps it's time you changed your frame of reference. Rather than thinking you have a paparazzi problem, look at it as your neighborhood has a parking problem. Rather than thinking you have a paparazzi problem, consider that it might be a crowd control/traffic problem. City Councilors can do wonders in these areas of the law (example).
Some ideas:
- Permit parking only on your block (with hefty fines). Your neighbors should be onboard, because they don't want to deal with this crap any more than you do.
- Traffic fines - Perhaps they need to be increased to address the driving behavior of certain individuals? Perhaps they need to accept video/photographic evidence of violations.
- Crowd Control measures - to ensure the safe and orderly flow of pedestrian traffic for all. Loitering fines?
- Protection of Children ordinance - which could introduce hefty fines for taking photos of children you don't personally know without a documentary permit.
Judges aren't going to throw out municipal laws that address public safety issues. Get enough fines and don't pay them, you know where you end up. Is a paparazzo going to risk a $500 fine for a potential $150 photo?
Look. I don't pretend to be an expert on municipal law. I don't have all the answers. I do know that getting state and federal governments to move takes a lot of time and money. Even if you get a law passed, there are years of appeals. Perhaps you'll get a resolution when your kids are getting out of college. This is not true for municipal governments. City counselors want to help all local citizens. They have the power to help you.
Can I help you with this? No. I'm not trying to sell you anything. I don't have expertise or access. Even if I did, you don't need me. This is a simple thing to do. Pick up the phone. Write an email to your mayor/councillor. Call your local Airport authority and ask them why they don't have a separate drive-through entrance for high profile individuals to address public safety concerns.
We have all thought, "There should be a law against this" at one time or another. The key is knowing what laws to change, and what level of government is responsible for them.
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