The “Steven Tyler Act,” an earnest but boneheaded measure now being considered in Hawaii’s Legislature, gives celebrities the right to sue paparazzi and collect general, special and punitive damages for taking unwanted photographs. Its sponsor is J. Kalani English of Maui, the evidently star-struck state senator who let Mr. Tyler’s lawyer help write it. Its purpose “is to encourage celebrities to visit and reside in our state by creating a civil cause of action for the constructive invasion of privacy. …”

The state attorney general, David Louie, deserves credit for opposing it. Sally Raisbeck, a resident of Maui, sensibly wrote to the Senate to complain: “It applies to any person, (including me), whether or not the intent is commercial,” and “is likely to have a chilling effect on legitimate reporters. And it would be very unlikely to pass a court test of the First Amendment. Please trash this trashy bill.”

Photo courtesy Radar – Bbspears.

—Chad Blair