California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signed a law that would make it a crime for any first responder to take unauthorized photos of deceased people at the scene of a crime or accident.
The bill, prompted by distasteful photographs taken at the scene of the January helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others, had been approved unanimously by both houses of the California Legislature last month, the Los Angeles Times reported.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed the "Kobe Bryant Bill" into law, which makes it a misdemeanor for any first responder to take unauthorized photographs of dead bodies.https://t.co/n90YwLBKbx
— NPR (@NPR) September 30, 2020
The measure, which goes into effect Jan. 1, makes it a misdemeanor, with fines up to $1,000 per offense, to take photos for anything other than official law enforcement purposes, according to The Associated Press.
After Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash, it is said that an officer went to a bar trying to impress a woman by showing her pictures of Kobe Bryant’s dead body at the actual scene. After the crash, there were photos egregiously released by first responders to TMZ, even before telling the Bryant’s and the other families.
“The actions of the first responders involved were unacceptable, and they highlighted a problem that demands a strong remedy,” said Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson.
Vaness Bryant also sued the cop who decided to show the pictures.
