Justin Bieber paparazzo faces charges in connection with high-speed chase

Singer Justin Bieber arrives at the 2012 Teen Choice Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre on July 22, 2012, in Universal City, Calif.

/ Jason Merritt/Getty Images

(CBS/AP) Los Angeles prosecutors have filed criminal charges against a paparazzo photographer for allegedly racing across a Los Angeles freeway in an effort to get photographs of Justin Bieber.

Pictures: Justin Bieber
Read More: Justin Bieber cited for speeding, claims chase

The City Attorney's office said Wednesday that 30-year-old Paul Raef faces four charges, including reckless driving with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain, following another vehicle too closely, and reckless driving.

The charges stem from a July 6 incident in which Bieber was stopped by police on a Los Angeles area freeway for driving in excess of 80 miles an hour.

The case marks the first use of a 2010 state law designed to prevent paparazzi from dangerously pursuing celebrities for photos.

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Justin Bieber

[bluejaysboy]

Yes I did just said that. A lot of judge will be base on the facts of the case. from what my girlfriend grandpa use to be Judge he said If their clear cut eviendince against the ticket and the other party geting get into trouble He would have no choice but to throw the ticket out base on the evendince he got and he listin to the 911 calls all of them a base on that He would throw it out of court. he retired by the way. he 75 years old.

If they did punish the paparazzo. He as a Judge has No choice but to upheld the ticket which mean he has to pay It any way. Reckless driving is speeding people when the fine is 100,000. it easlier to said speeding

[bluejaysboy]

My thng is they had no choice it's either punish both party or none of them get punish what would you rather have because A judge would of throw the ticket out of court because he was being chase any ways.

Maybe he will Just pay it now knowing that paparazzo will pay to.

[bluejaysboy]

What would the paparazzi would like where you have to stay across the street or about 400 feet away. fance Has that they have to stay across the street unless ok by the star. It's funny how he goes to a diffent country and doesn't have any problems with the paparazzi over their. When he come home he has major of the paparazzi proplems here I surpise he hasn't left and moved to a country like fance or england.

[selznak]

Why isn't the P.O.S. Bieber being brought up on charges of reckless driving?

[bluejaysboy]

Because He didn't flee the police and he was being polite as can be You be nice to a police office You will get off to. unlike the paparazzo did He flee the police when they try to pull both of them over. He follow him again after the traffic stop. So in reckroad spect. He could of the charge with staking to but he did. Yes I know Justin bieber did speed Witness said said he was being chase all the 911 calls confirm it. even zine said he was being chase. He will now have to pay a 100,000 dollar ticket for what he did. But what if he was distracted by the paparazzo following him and he hit a family with a car and a kid die. Do you want that to happen to you. He the paparazzo put more lives in danger then anyone else and now Justin know to call the police when he's being follow. You have to think about other people on the road to not just one. which you are doing If that little thing would of happen who fault would it be.

[hypnotoad72]

"including reckless driving with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain"

So "commercial gain" is the cause of a crime? While I would love to post a zillion articles telling who would be more relevant of being thrown in the slammer, since when is there a justifiable cause for reckless driving?

There was no need to put in the added verbiage. Reckless driving is just that, the ONLY purpose that is an exception is if a human life is in jeopardy.

Then again, with all the suffering due to lack of money and wages and my usual cant, I could find as many reasons to pardon the reckless idiot as anyone could put up a charge of "reckless driving with the intent to capture pictures for commercial gain" -- holy badly written verbiage, batman...