Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new measure on September 28, which states it’s now a crime to take unauthorized pictures of a dead person at an accident scene.
What We Know:
- The “Kobe Bryant Law,” which is set to take effect on January 1, was brought due to the after-effects of the basketball star’s deadly helicopter crash on January 26, when eight local officers were accused of taking or sharing pics of the accident for unofficial business.
- Sources have mentioned that one of the eight officers apparently was using the pictures from Bryant’s helicopter crash to hit on a woman at a bar. The woman at the bar told officers what had occurred.
Proud to report that my bill, The #KobeBryant Act of 2020, was signed today by @GavinNewsom. #AB2655 will prohibit first responders from taking photos of the deceased outside of job duties. #caleg
— Asm. Mike A. Gipson (@AsmMikeGipson) September 29, 2020
- This new bill now makes it a felony or misdemeanor for a first responder to take or share pictures from an accident or crime scene for any purpose outside official law enforcement or genuine public interest.
- Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant, has already filed a lawsuit against the L.A. County Sheriff’s Office over the alleged accident photo scandal. Vanessa is suing for negligence, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
- Vanessa stated she was “confused and distraught” as she met with Villanueva at the sheriff’s station that day. She mentioned the sheriff personally assured her “deputies were securing the crash site” as crowds gathered nearby.
- Documents also state that Vanessa is feeling ill with the thought of strangers staring at pictures of her deceased husband and child. She continually has a fear that she, or especially her daughters, will one day see those horrific images of their loved ones online and affect their mental and emotional state.
Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other passengers were killed on January 26 when their helicopter crashed in Calabasas on a very foggy day. Hopefully, Kobe Bryant’s Law will give Vanessa Bryant some peace and tranquility.
