On the heels of a high-speed chase on Highway 101 on July 6th – and after an exhaustive investigation by law enforcement – a local member of the paparazzi has been charged with four misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, failing to obey a peace officer, and two counts of following a motor vehicle too closely and reckless driving.
I reported on the incident which involved Justin Bieber a couple of weeks ago.
Post: 07/07/2012
http://www.ijulian.blogspot.com/2012/07/justin-bieber100-mph-speed-chase-with.html
If the photographer – Paul Raef (a man 30 years of age) – is convicted, he faces one year in the County Jail and fines up to $3500.00.
The charges were brought under the paparazzi-inspired - AB 2779 – which was signed into law by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a few years ago.
Raef has not responded to requests for a statement by press time.
According to a Police Department spokesperson, a decision was made to go forward on the charges in view of Raef’s alleged total disregard for the safety of others on the road and a past criminal record which is extensive.The overzealous photographer has racked up offenses in Orange County and San Bernardino for speeding and reckless driving, for example.
Councilman Dennis Zine – who called 911 after having witnessed Raef and a posse of paparazzo chase down Pop Star Justin Bieber on the freeway on the morning of July 6th (with the ultimate of nabbing a “money shot”) – applauded the decision.
“It’s about time the paparazzi were held accountable for their actions.”
In one well-known case a couple of decades ago, one photographer (Ron Galella) was barred from entering the “personal space” of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis after it was determined by the court that he had been violating Jackie O’s right to move freely in a public place.
The famous 1972 trial on the issue of "free speech" - Galella vs. Onassis - resulted in a restraining order to keep Galella 50 feet away from Mrs. Onassis and 75 feet awy from her young children.
Will Bieber follow suit?
Stay posted for updates!
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