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Snookiville law: Why New Jersey wants more control over reality TV

'Snookiville Law'? The proposed law would let towns license and regulate the filming of reality television shows and require the shows to pay for additional police officers. Ronald Dancer, an Ocean County Republican, introduced the legislation for the "Snookiville Law."

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(AP Photo/MTV, Ian Spanier Photography)
The cast of "Jersey Shore," from left, Paul " DJ Pauly D" Delvecchio, Deena Nicole Cortese, Vinny Guadagnino, Jenni "JWOWW" Farley, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola and Ronnie Magro in Seaside Heights, N.J. A New Jersey legislator wants a 'Snookiville law' to give towns more control over reality TV costs.
  • By Wayne Parry Associated Press

| Atlantic City, N.J.

A bill introduced on Monday would give towns where reality TV shows are being filmed more control over The Situation. (Not to mention Snooki and JWoww, too.)

State Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, an Ocean County Republican, introduced the legislation for the "Snookiville" Law, which would let towns license and regulate the filming of reality television shows and impose conditions including requiring TV crews to pay for additional police officers needed to assure public safety.

Dancer said in a statement that New Jersey has a tradition of being a desirable setting for reality shows such as The Situation, Snooki and JWoww's "Jersey Shore," ''The Real Housewives of New Jersey" and "Cake Boss."

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"These shows can attract crowds, which can benefit local businesses and challenge a community's resources," said Dancer, whose district includes parts of Ocean, Burlington, Middlesex and Monmouth counties. "This bill will permit local officials to make sure taxpayers don't get 'Snook'-ered or public safety is compromised when reality stars such as Snooki or J-Woww come to town."

Dancer named the law after Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, the most famous cast member of MTV's "Jersey Shore," which recently ended its three-year run in Seaside Heights, 20 miles east of Dancer's district.

During the cast's time in Seaside Heights, cast members were involved in scuffles and drunken behavior in public, and police officers routinely were assigned to areas where they were taping. But the borough made its own arrangements with the show's producers to cover those costs.

The final season of "Jersey Shore" will begin airing on Oct. 4.

Snooki and co-star Jennifer "JWoww" Farley have been filming a spinoff series in Manchester, a few miles inland from Seaside Heights. Authorities there have reported no problems with the filming.

An MTV spokesman had no immediate comment on the bill's introduction.

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Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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