Justin Bieber Calls for New Legislation in Wake of Photographer's Death

1:02 PM PST 1/2/2013 by Sophie Schillaci

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An unidentified paparazzo was struck and killed by a vehicle as he attempted to photograph the singer’s white Ferrari.

Justin Bieber is calling for new legislation following the death of a photographer who was killed in an attempt to photograph the singer’s white Ferrari.

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“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim,” Bieber said in a statement Wednesday. “Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves.”

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The incident reportedly occurred Tuesday shortly before 6 p.m., the Los Angeles Times said, when an unidentified photographer crossed Sepulveda Boulevard near Getty Center Drive in order to take pictures of Bieber’s car, which had been pulled over on the 405 Freeway for a traffic top. A friend of Beiber’s was driving the car; the pop star was not present.

The photographer reportedly was hit by another vehicle as he crossed the street to return to his own car and later died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. According to the Times, the photographer was not crossing in a crosswalk, and the motorist who struck him was fully cooperating with authorities.

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A first-of-its-kind anti-paparazzi law was passed in 2010 and punishes paps driving dangerously to capture images they will sell but since has come under scrutiny. Last year, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge threw out charges related to the law, saying it violated 1st Amendment protections by over-reaching and could affect other photographers. In that case, Bieber had been pulled over on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley and was cited for speeding. Bieber said he was being chased by a paparazzo at the time.