Traffic Camera Evidence Properly Admitted (Get Out Your Checkbook!).

A woman was cited for failing to stop at a red light. Evidence against her was generated by an automated traffic camera enforcement system [aka red light traffic camera]. She objected to the admission of the traffic camera photograph and 12-second video on the basis of lack of foundation. At her infraction trial, a City investigator testified about the red light camera program that was first implemented in 2003, and explained how it worked. In a unanimous opinion, the California Supreme Court held the evidence was properly authenticated, did not constitute hearsay and that there is no heightened requirement for red light camera traffic cases.  (The People v. Goldsmith (Cal. Sup. Ct.; June 5, 2014) 59 Cal.4th 258, [326 P.3d 239, 172 Cal.Rptr.3d 637].)