Justalayman,
My case does establish that officers cannot cite CVC 25950 without justification, isn't that true?
The court record states:
THE COURT: However, I don't mean to cut you off, but I did have a question for the People, if I may. Could you point to what testimony or evidence by Lieutenant McCluskey that supports the conviction of the Vehicle Code section 25950?
MS. AIZPURU-SUTTON: Your Honor, the brief is written by my predecessor. I believe he cites only to the officer saying the light was bright. That's the extent of my answer, Your Honor.
THE COURT: And would you agree or disagree that that appears to be insufficient in light of the language of the statute?
MS. AIZPURU-SUTTON: I would just say, Your Honor, that brightness -- brightness was the word that was used, and that doesn't seem to be the language of the statute and that's probably as far as I'll go.
THE COURT: Thank you very much. And I apologize for interrupting. Do you have additional comments?
The attorney has conceded the fact that an officer cannot withstand an allegation of CVC 25950, by just saying they are bright, when not supported with any evidence. This by definition is insufficient evidence by consent of the attorney
So the Santa Clara County Court Ruled:
Appellant's argument that there is not substantial evidence that Appellant's lights were bright enough to violate the statute is well taken. Vehicle Code section 25950, subdivision (a) applies to the color of lamps exhibiting or reflecting perceptible light of 0.05 candela or more per foot-candle of incident illumination. This section further provides that all emitted light from lamps visible from the front of the vehicle shall be white or yellow unless provided otherwise. Vehicle Code section 25400, subdivision (a) provides that any vehicle may be equipped with a lamp or device on the exterior of the vehicle that emits a diffused non-glaring light of not more than 0.05 candela per square inch of area. Vehicle Code section 25400, subdivision (b) provides that any diffused non-glaring light shall not display red to the front but may display other colors.
Here, the settled statement does not indicate that Lt. McCloskey ever testified that Appellant's lights were bright enough to satisfy the threshold of the 0.05 per candela requirement set forth in Vehicle Code section 25950, subdivision (a). Therefore, there is not substantial evidence to support Appellant's conviction.
As far as Santa Clara County is concerned, yes a precendent has been established.
And this decision totally discredits the decision by Commissioner James Madden in the Palo Alto Court.
This case does set a standard of evidence for future cases, a police officer better do more work to support a allegation.