Us Magazine
The singer made his argument at a hearing about the matter at L.A. City Hall Thursday.
"I don't sit before you today to ask that you ban the paparazzi," Mayer, 30, explained. "I'm asking you to regulate it. Officialize it. Tax it. Legitimize it.
"I don't want to beg the city of Los Angeles to give me 1987 back," he said. "I love being a famous musician in 2008... This is about safety."
Mayer proposed the requirement of photographer credentials, marked cars for photographers and a "law governing an acceptable filming distance from an unwilling subject [to keep] everybody safe and misbehavior accountable."
Watch John Mayer spoof his fame on the streets of NYC.
Mayer concluded: "Regulating the paparazzi won't bring an end to modern-day media coverage, just as the newly enforced hands-free law hasn't stopped people from talking on cell phones while they drive.
See photos of John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston plus other older women with younger guys.
Actors Eric Roberts and Milo Ventimiglia were also scheduled to speak at the hearing.
LAPD Chief William J. Bratton called out celebrities for making a big deal of how paparazzi conduct themselves.
"If you notice, since Britney started wearing clothes and behaving; Paris is out of town not bothering anybody, thank God; and, evidently, Lindsay Lohan has gone gay, we don't seem to have much of an issue," Bratton told KNBC-TV Thursday, according to the L.A. Times.
"So as far as all this grandstanding and foolishness, waste of city time on this issue and the fact that I felt aggravated enough about it to interrupt my workout to come over and set the record straight, LAPD has no intention of participating in this farce," he added.
"They act like a pack of wolves, stalking their prey," Councilman Dennis Zine said. "What we're trying to do is prevent a tragedy from happening."
Tell Us: Should paparazzi be regulated?
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Jon RJohn, Just shut the hell up and go make some more %@!*#e music! You suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!report abuseposted August 4, 2008 11:46 AM PDT
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Karen FMost of you bloggers are idiots. John Mayer has a reasonable and valid point. He and his coworkers need help to protect them. Support him or be part of the problem, which means you feed on all the gossip true or not. The rest of you are wannabeesreport abuseposted August 3, 2008 9:52 PM PDT
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__A_YAHOO_USER__He looks so handsome .He is my favor . Yes, he is single now. I saw his profile on dating site ******m o d e l m i l l o n a i r e . c o m**** last week. It is said he is in relationship with a young beautiful model woman on that site now. ☆☆☆☆☆???☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆report abuseposted July 31, 2008 8:16 PM PDT
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YO JOHN MAYER IS A SL**!!!!!!!!!!report abuseposted July 31, 2008 5:51 PM PDT
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YP JOHN MAYER IS A SLAHT AND A HO'report abuseposted July 31, 2008 5:46 PM PDT
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YO!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOHN MAYER IS A %@!*#!!!!!!report abuseposted July 31, 2008 4:45 PM PDT
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DB44Good, I hope they do regulate. Those paparazzi act like stalkers. Why should some guy (or girl) with a camera be allowed to stalk a star? Noone is saying ban them altogether, just make some rules.report abuseposted July 31, 2008 3:31 PM PDT
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Ang88I think everyone would agree that there is a discernable difference between a fan taking pictures of a star and a paparazzi. Fans should be OK unless they too go over the line and really invade someone's personal space. I don't think celebrities should have to give up any civil liberties, like the ability to freely walk around without being harassed, that the rest of us enjoy. Papreport abuseposted July 31, 2008 3:15 PM PDT
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Ang88I agree with Mayer. Those paps should be regulated. If legit photojournalists need to be credentialed then the papparazzi should be as well. Not to mention the fact that someone shopping or eating lunch is not news. The tactics of these thug paps have become increasingly invasive and potentially dangerous to the famous and non-famous alike, I hope they pass news legislation.report abuseposted July 31, 2008 3:09 PM PDT
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AskWhyMy opinion of John just gets better and better. A terrific performer and an intelligent human being makes for a great guy. But he has to have a teenie little streak of stupidity for dating a skank like Jen Anniston. I hope she is just a F to him and then he will be done with her. John should work with Brad Pitt and the other guys on the next Oceans project. Class acts rule in my world.report abuseposted July 31, 2008 3:03 PM PDT
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