Pregnant mom Halle Berry won a major victory against the paparazzi who make their living stalking her and her daughter Nahla Aubrey.
After January 2014 paparazzi in California will be fined or even arrested if they snap photos of celebrity children without authorization.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation into law on Tuesday, the LAtimes.com reports.
The new legislation by Sen. Kevin de Leon, which takes effect Jan. 1, makes it illegal to take photographs or videotape children because of one of their parent’s professions. The bill also protects the children of judges, lawmakers and other public officials.
Any violation of the new law is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The fine increases for each infraction.
“Kids shouldn’t be tabloid fodder nor the target of ongoing harassment,” de Leon said, adding his bill “will give children, no matter who their parent is, protection from harassers who go to extremes to turn a buck.”
Actresses Jennifer Garner and Halle Berry testified before California lawmakers in support of the bill.
California newspapers and photo services which supply photos to the media opposed the new legislation.
California Newspapers Publishers Assn. argued that the bill’s penalties would infringe on 1st Amendment-protected newsgathering in public places where celebrities have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
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