At Least They Aren't Selling Official T-shirts...Yet

San Mateo County charges media $51K for spots near the courthouse where the Scott Peterson trial is being held.

The 16 spaces, which are approximately 13 feet by 17 feet, will be used for television reporters to store equipment, work and conduct interviews. Each station must provide its own tent.

In addition, television stations must pay $7,500 for space to park their satellite trucks. Twenty spaces set aside for journalists in a nearby lot cost $200 a month each. Reporters are not being charged for space in a media center about a block away.

Altogether, the fees would raise $816,000 for the county, about a third of which has already been spent on preparations for the trial, Alms said.