chapter 17 - exhibits that pose safety, security, or storage problems

17.1 Items deemed to pose a safety, security, or storage problem in a courtroom.

a. Any firearm or ammunition.

b. Any needle, knife, blade, or other pointed or sharp-edged object.

c. Any marijuana, concentrated cannabis or "controlled substance" as defined in Section 11007 of the California Health and Safety Code, in any form.

d. Any explosive chemical, powder, gas, liquid, substance, material, or device.

e. Any toxic, flammable or corrosibe powder, gas, liquid, substance, material or device.

f. Any item purported to contain blood, urine or other human or animal fluid, tissue or matter.

g. Any item that requires refrigeration and/or humity controled storage.

h. Any item that the office of the Clerk to the Superior Court determines is too bulky or otherwise beyond the normal capability of the storage facilities of that office. (eff. 1/1/95)

17.2 Firearms

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, any firearm shall be secured with a trigger guard, or otherwise rendered inoperable, and offered for inspection by an officer of the court prior to being brought into a courtroom. (eff. 1/1/95)

17.3 Pointed or Sharp-edged Objects

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, any item specified in b. above shall be secured within a clear plastic tube or other secure device, and shall be offered for inspection by an officer of the court prior to being brought into a courtroom. (eff. 1/1/95)

17.4 Secondary Evidence

Unless otherwise ordered by the court, evidence of any item specified in c. through h. above shall be offerered in the form of a photographic record, and, when appropriate, a written chemical analysis certified by competent authority. (eff. 1/1/95)

17.5 Safekeeping of items

The party offering secondary evidence of the type described in paragraph 4 shall provide the secondary evidence and shall be responsible for the safekeeping of the items of which secondary evidence has been offered until the expiration of the period during which the clerk of the court would be responsible for the safekeeping of the items had the items been received in evidence. (eff. 1/1/95)

17.6 Requests for Exemption from Requirements

Requests for exemption from the above requirements shall be in writing and presented to the court at the pretrial conference on the day of the trial, or, for good cause shown, at a later time. Such requests shall set forth justification for presentation and receiving in evidence an item defined in c. through h. above, instead of secondary evidence. Such requests shall also describe measures taken to ensure tht the presentation, receipt in evidence, physical handling, and storage of the item will not present a safety, security or storage problem. (eff. 1/1/95)