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CALIFORNIA LAW
The California Legislature passed a law which protects the Rights of Journalists.
409.5 California Penal Code.
(a) Whenever a menace to the public health or safety is created by a calamity including a flood, storm, fire, earthquake, explosion, accident, or other disaster, officers of the Department of the California Highway Patrol, police departments, marshal's office or sheriff's office, any officer of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection designated a peace officer by subdivision (g) of Section 830.2, any officer or employee of the Department of Parks and Recreatin designated a peace officer by subdivision (f) of scetion 830.2, and any publicly employed full-time lifeguard or publicly employed full-time marine safety officer while acting in a supervisory position in the performance of his or her official duties, may close the area where the menace exists for the duration thereof by means of ropes, markers, or guards to any and all persons not authorized by the lifeguard or officer to enter or remain within the enclosed area. If the calamity creates an immediate menace to the public health, the local health officer may close the area where the menace exists pursuant to the conditions set forth in this section.
(d) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PREVENT A DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENATIVE OF ANY NEWS SERVICE, NEWSPAPER, OR RADIO OR TELEVISION STATION OR NETWORK FROM ENTERING THE AREAS CLOSED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
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