For paparazzi, safety first

Re “Deputies arrest four in crackdown on paparazzi,” Feb. 21

If any person behaved as these paparazzi, they would be arrested for stalking. The laws are already on the books. The paparazzi should be fined and thrown in jail if they are ticketed twice. They are harassing and stalking and endangering the public with their wild chases and refusal to clear public sidewalks. At what point does the public’s right to know end and the rights and privacy of the paparazzi subjects begin?

Phyllis P. Lilly

Ridgecrest, Calif.

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I have been a paparazzo for eight months after having worked as an L.A.-based newspaper reporter and photographer for 22 years. I work as a freelance photographer for the Bauer-Griffin photo agency.

I think the paparazzi industry in L.A. needs to be regulated to hold accountable the photo agencies for the actions and behavior of their photographers. Agencies should issue their photographers proper IDs and credentials in case law enforcement authorities require proof that they are properly employed.

There’s also the problem with fly-by-night celebrity photographers who do not use common sense and common decency when they are at work. My agency is very specific when it comes to doing our jobs: Obey all laws and never break the law. Safety -- of the photographer, the celebrity and the general public -- is our No. 1 priority.

John L. Shinn III

Covina