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HomeEvidence CodeDiv. 11Ch. 2Art. 3§ 1553 Digital Image Evidence Presumption

§ 1553 Digital Image Evidence Presumption

Evidence Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 1553 Digital Image Evidence Presumption

Key Takeaways

  • •If you print a photo or video from a digital file, the court will assume it's real unless someone proves it's fake.
  • •If someone says the printed photo or video is fake, the person who printed it must prove it's real.
  • •This rule also applies to photos or videos taken by traffic cameras (like red-light cameras).

Example

A traffic camera takes a picture of a car running a red light, and the police print it out to use as evidence in court.

The court will assume the printed photo is real. If the driver says the photo is fake or edited, the police must prove the photo is accurate.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 1553 Digital Image Evidence Presumption

(a) A printed representation of images stored on a video or digital medium is presumed to be an accurate representation of the images it purports to represent. This presumption is a presumption affecting the burden of producing evidence. If a party to an action introduces evidence that a printed representation of images stored on a video or digital medium is inaccurate or unreliable, the party introducing the printed representation into evidence has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of evidence, that the printed representation is an accurate representation of the existence and content of the images that it purports to represent. (b) Subdivision (a) applies to the printed representation of video or photographic images stored by an automated traffic enforcement system. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 735, Sec. 2. (SB 1303) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

printed representationvideo or digital mediumpresumed to be an accurate representationpreponderance of evidenceautomated traffic enforcement system

Related Statutes

  • § 1552 Computer Printout Evidence Presumption
  • § 1235 Prior Inconsistent Witness Statements
  • § 1236 Consistent Witness Statements Admissible
  • § 1237 Witness Past Statement Admissibility
  • § 1238 Witness Identification Statements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Evidence Code. Section 1553.
View Official Source