Jennifer Aniston has been named as the force behind a new state law in California, which will restrict the paparazzi in 2010 and beyond. Aniston's activism was instrumental in the success of Assembly Bill 524, which takes effect from Friday (01Jan10), according to Democrat and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, who has revealed the actress' horror stories prompted her to fast track the legislation.

The new law allows for civil penalties against members of the paparazzi and media outlets that sell and buy unlawfully obtained photographs and video footage of people, including celebrities and their families, according to the Los Angeles Times. Bass tells the publication, she wrote the bill after Aniston and a group of celebrities she assembled helped her to understand just how bad the Los Angeles paparazzi problem had become.

The actress tells the Times, "There have to be some boundaries. When you have children in the car and the photographers are rushing you, it’s just absolutely out of control. It’s become a public safety issue. Somebody’s going to die if we don’t do something."

The measure was signed into law in October (09) by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. (KL/LAT/IG)

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