LA Police Arrest 4 in Paparazzi Crackdown

Brit, LiLo followers face jail time for blocking sidewalks

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Feb 21, 2008 11:04 AM CST

(Newser) – Even Britney Spears’ paparazzi can’t stay out of trouble, the Los Angeles Times reports. Late Tuesday and early yesterday, Los Angeles police arrested four shutterbugs for blocking sidewalks in their hunt for tabloid-worthy shots—part of a crackdown, using existing loitering and traffic laws, on increasingly aggressive photographers. All four men face up to a year in prison and $1,000 in fines.

Police resolved to crack down when photographers blocked hospital entrances seeking shots of Spears during a January incident. “They don’t disperse. They don’t listen to warnings,” a sheriff’s spokesman complained. But an editor at celebrity-news site TMZ.com was perplexed. There’s lots of dangerous paparazzi activity, he admitted, so it’s bizarre that “the sheriff’s launching pad is photographers on a sidewalk.”

Paris Hilton's car is surrounded by media as she leaves a probation violation hearing in Los Angeles in this May 4, 2007, file photo. Los Angeles city councilman Dennis Zine introduced a motion Friday,... (Associated Press)

This image provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shows a booking photograph of Vagn Rauch, one of four photographers arrested by deputies Tuesday Feb. 19, 2008 as part of a crackdown... (Associated Press)

Photographers try to photograph through the back window of a Los Angeles City Fire Department ambulance carrying entertainer Britney Spears, as it leaves her residence,in this Jan. 3, 2008, file photo... (Associated Press)

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LA Police Arrest 4 in Paparazzi Crackdown

Brit, LiLo followers face jail time for blocking sidewalks

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LA Police Arrest 4 in Paparazzi Crackdown

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

media • Britney Spears • Lindsay Lohan • Los Angeles • tabloids • paparazzi • gossip • TMZ • photographers • Harvey Levin • Villa

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

'Gotcha' Site TMZ Goes to TV

Zero to 60 gossip site ups ante

Inside the $3B 'Gossip Machine'

Authorities want to protect privacy, but thwarted by a 'river of cash'

LiLo Involved in LA Hit-and-Run

Lindsay Lohan's driver becomes subject of assault probe

Governator: 'Swift Action' for Wife's Serial Car Phone Use

But TMZ catches Maria Shriver on cell behind wheel after Schwarzenegger promise

LAPD Chief Dishes on Brit, LiLo

Top cop: "Paris is out of town not bothering anybody"

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