Malibu Closely Watches L.A. Paparazzi Law for Possible Replication

• Support Grows for Concept of a Minimum Personal Safety Zone

BY ANNE SOBLE

Acknowledging that many legal attempts to curb what the City of Malibu Public Safety Commission calls “the increasingly intrusive actions of some paparazzi” have failed, its members are watching what happens with City of Los Angeles efforts to prevent aggressive behavior by paparazzi when photographing subjects that endangers the subjects and the general public.
Last month, the Los Angeles City Council urged the proposal of new restrictions on paparazzi, including requiring “a minimum safety zone of clear space that would protect public safety of streets, sidewalks, access points to emergency care facilities, access to private businesses and homes, and general orderly conduct when paparazzi converge on an individual or location” to take photos for sale.
The local public safety panel, as well as the city attorney’s office, has recommended that the city “review and track the City of Los Angeles proposed ordinance to evaluate its effectiveness [and] whether it is upheld in the courts before proposing a similar ordinance for Malibu.”
Los Angeles is expected to proceed with a motion this month that “would develop new restrictions on paparazzi to include a minimum personal safety zone of several feet of clear space between paparazzi and the individuals they are photographing, including their vehicles.”
Although there are already numerous state laws that address “invasion of privacy” and “reckless behavior” in this context, the proposed law classifies nonpermitted photography as a form of assault.
The Malibu commission will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, April 2, at 6 p.m. at City Hall.