Actors Urge House Panel to Place Curbs on Paparazzi

With steam building in Congress for a law to rein in the conduct of paparazzi, actors Paul Reiser and Michael J. Fox came to Capitol Hill on Thursday with first-hand accounts of how far modern tabloid photographers will go to get a picture.

Appearing before a rapt House Judiciary Committee, Fox--star of the television series “Spin City”--recalled that paparazzi bribed residents to infiltrate his Vermont wedding to Tracy Pollan in 1988, then cornered her 85-year-old grandparents and pumped them for information.

“In 1989, [paparazzi] tried to pose as medical personnel at the hospital where Tracy was giving birth to our son,” Fox said. “In 1990, they intruded upon my father’s funeral . . . pretended to be mourners and snuck into the wake at my mother’s home.”

With eight press photographers crouched before him clicking away, Reiser--star of television’s “Mad About You”--said the premature birth of his son touched off a media hunt so aggressive that he was advised not to accompany his baby to the pediatrician because photographers had staked out the lobby.

“Cars began to follow us on our daily errands. Strangers with video cameras camped outside our home,” Reiser said. “One resourceful photographer gained access to a house down the street from us and with a telescopic lens was able to get a photo of my son in the privacy of our backyard.”

Congress is considering three paparazzi bills--all authored by Californians. One, introduced by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), would make it a federal crime for a photographer to endanger anyone’s safety to get a photograph or recording to sell.

A similar bill introduced by the late Rep. Sonny Bono is being advanced by his widow and successor, Rep. Mary Bono (R-Palm Springs).

And on the Senate side, a third measure introduced Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein is broadest of all, not only proposing criminal penalties but expanding the definition of trespassing to include zoom lenses and other enhancement devices used to peek into bedrooms and backyards without actually stepping on private property.

Some Judiciary Committee members questioned whether state laws against harassment and invasion of privacy do not already cover aggressive photographers. Still, proponents are hopeful that a bill will pass, particularly with the death last summer of Princess Diana and the questions it raised about actions by paparazzi still fresh in the public’s memory.

Those stars who couldn’t be present to testify sent the committee letters:

Barbra Streisand wrote: “I feel as if I am a prisoner in my own home.”

Sharon Stone wrote: “This is a letter from a citizen of the United States. A citizen who cannot safely walk down the street, safely drive alone in her car, or share a movie date with her family on a Sunday afternoon.”

Tom Hanks wrote: “Unfortunately, ordinary family events such as . . . simply shopping for shoes in the neighborhood has often found our family being pursued by professional photographers who are specifically seeking a picture of myself with my children.”

Previous attempts to legislate paparazzi behavior have failed as violations of the 1st Amendment right to a free press. Critics have also accused celebrities of complaining about the very fame they seek.

“I work very hard to entertain an audience and when they enjoy my work, I am deeply gratified,” Fox acknowledged. But he added: “I strongly disagree with those who would argue that some sort of Faustian bargain has been struck whereby public figures are fair game, any time, any place.”

Several media experts denounced the proposed legislation as being vague and too broad, warning that mainstream journalists would be limited inadvertently by it, restricting the public’s right to know.

“Bills like this one also would protect villains, frauds and scoundrels against diligent photojournalists who would bring them and their activities to light,” said Paul C. Tash, executive editor of the St. Petersburg Times. He testified on behalf of the American Society of Newspaper Editors.