KRL
12-05-2003, 04:50 AM
Can't wait to see this enforced. Just what we need movie theater citizen police. What the hell are these politicians thinking??? :)
LOS ANGELES - Sneaking a camcorder into a movie theater will soon be a crime in California under a new law designed to protect both copyrights and the livelihood of thousands of movie industry workers.
The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, allows moviegoers to make a citizen's arrest if they see someone in a theater with a recording device. Signs will also be posted at all Los Angeles County theaters notifying patrons of the new law.
The law, which was signed by former Gov. Gray Davis, was written to also include future technologies and could be enforced against people recording all or parts of a film with a tape recorder, hand-held computer or even a cell phone.
City and county law enforcement officers say they will respond to calls from theaters to assist in making the citizen's arrest if resources permit. People convicted under the law could be subject to a maximum one year in jail and a fine of $2,500.
"These thieves are stealing from Los Angeles and are stealing from American creativity," city attorney Rocky Delgadillo said Thursday.
Clutching a palm-sized camcorder in one hand, Delgadillo paraphrased the movie character "Dirty Harry," portrayed by actor Clint Eastwood, "If you carry one of these into a movie theater, you have to ask yourself, 'Do I feel lucky?'"
LOS ANGELES - Sneaking a camcorder into a movie theater will soon be a crime in California under a new law designed to protect both copyrights and the livelihood of thousands of movie industry workers.
The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, allows moviegoers to make a citizen's arrest if they see someone in a theater with a recording device. Signs will also be posted at all Los Angeles County theaters notifying patrons of the new law.
The law, which was signed by former Gov. Gray Davis, was written to also include future technologies and could be enforced against people recording all or parts of a film with a tape recorder, hand-held computer or even a cell phone.
City and county law enforcement officers say they will respond to calls from theaters to assist in making the citizen's arrest if resources permit. People convicted under the law could be subject to a maximum one year in jail and a fine of $2,500.
"These thieves are stealing from Los Angeles and are stealing from American creativity," city attorney Rocky Delgadillo said Thursday.
Clutching a palm-sized camcorder in one hand, Delgadillo paraphrased the movie character "Dirty Harry," portrayed by actor Clint Eastwood, "If you carry one of these into a movie theater, you have to ask yourself, 'Do I feel lucky?'"