California Gov. Gavin Newsom approved a law Monday stemming from the leaked photos of the scene of January's helicopter crash in Calabasas that claimed the lives of nine people, including Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, according to The Associated Press.
The new legislation, which comes into effect Jan. 1, 2021, makes it a misdemeanor with fines of up to $1,000 per offense for first responders to take unauthorized pictures of dead people at the scene of a crime or accident.
Eight sheriff's deputies reportedly shared photos of the Calabasas crash site and the remains of the deceased in the aftermath of the Jan. 26 crash.
Bryant's widow, Vanessa, filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department earlier this month over the leaked crash photos. The suit seeks damages for negligence, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
