The California legislature is considering a bill that would impose heavy penalties on those who break laws in order to take and sell photographs of celebrities with their families. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass advanced the bill to discourage photographers from trespassing or violating traffic laws in order to get intimate portraits of the famous. Any photographer who knowingly breaks the law to obtain a celebrity family photo could be fined up to $50,000. Additionally, broadcasters of illegally obtained images could be subject to individual lawsuits. If passed, will such a bill protect privacy, or curtail the rights of a free press? Larry Mantle learns more.

Jay Lavely, entertainment law attorney at Lavely & Singer

Doug Mirrell, President of The ACLU Foundation of Southern California and an attorney in private practice