Wilson Signs Tough Anti-Stalking Bill

California residents will have more power to keep stalkers away with a phone call by a police officer to a judge, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Pete Wilson, Assemblyman Brooks Firestone (R-Los Olivos) announced Tuesday.

Firestone sponsored the bill, which becomes law Jan. 1, 1998.

The measure allows peace officers to telephone a judge from the scene of a stalking incident and request an Emergency Protective Order, said Firestone spokesman Leon Page.

Firestone’s 35th District includes Ventura, Ojai and Santa Paula.

Previously, Page said, stalkers had to exhibit a litany of unsavory behavior to be considered a threat, Page said. Soon, all judges will need to hear is that there are reasonable grounds that someone is being frightened or threatened by a stalker to issue the protective order.

When the bill becomes law, victims will be able to take action “before something really bad happens,” Page said.

The Emergency Protective Order keeps the stalker away for five court days, said Los Angeles Deputy Dist. Atty. Rhonda Saunders, who helped write the stalking measure.

“This gives [prosecutors] some breathing space to get records together, write an affidavit and start proceedings for a permanent [restraining order],” Saunders said.

The bill also gives citizens a warning that their behavior may be scaring someone, she said.

“Now what we have to do is work on the stalking law itself,” Saunders said.

She added that she hopes future legislation will be written to lock up stalkers for longer than what is now the maximum penalty--four years in state prison.