娱乐英语新闻:California Senate approves anti-paparazzi law

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- California's Senate Friday approved a bill aimed at punishing paparazzi for harassing celebrities.

The measure, AB 1479, calls for penalties against paparazzi who drive recklessly or invade the privacy of celebrities in pursuit of a photograph.

Under the bill, any engagement in reckless driving in pursuit of a photograph is deemed a misdemeanor. Penalties would be enhanced when a child is put in harm's way.

The legislation will increase penalty for reckless driving from an infraction to a misdemeanor if there's an intent to capture video or photographs for sale. Violations will result in up to six months in jail and up to 2,500 U.S. dollars in fine.

It also makes it a crime for individuals to engage in surveillance to get a photo, image or recording of a celebrity.

"This bill provides the tools for law enforcement to eliminate the reckless pursuits that unfairly endangers the public as well as celebrities and their families," said Assembly woman and bill author Karen Bass, a Democrat from Los Angeles.

She said the bill came at a time when celebrities described paparazzi getting more aggressive.

The bill will return to the Assembly for approval of amendments made by the Senate.