Section 12-21-44 Writings or Records Made in Regular Course of Business - Photostatic, Photographic, or Microphotographic Plate or Film of Originals, or Prints Thereof; Rights Thereto When Original Not Available.

(a) Any writing or record, whether in the form of an entry in a book or otherwise, made as a memorandum or record of any act, transaction, occurrence or event, if it was made in the regular course of any business and it was in the regular course of the business to make such memorandum or record at the time of such act, transaction, occurrence or event, or within a reasonable time thereafter, may be photostated, or it may be photographed or microphotographed on plate or film; and such photostat, photographic or microphotographic plate or film, or print thereof, whether enlarged or not, shall be deemed to be an original record and shall be admissible in evidence in proof of said act, transaction, occurrence or event in all instances that the original record might have been admissible and shall be presumed to be a true and correct reproduction of the original record it purports to represent. All other circumstances of the making of such writing or record, or of such photostat, photographic or microphotographic plate or film or print thereof, whether enlarged or not, including lack of personal knowledge by the entrant or maker, may be shown to affect its weight, but they shall not affect its admissibility. (b) Whenever any writing or record, whether in the form of an entry in a book or otherwise, made as a memorandum or record of any act, transaction, occurrence or event has been photostated, photographed or microphotographed on plate or film, any party having the right to have the original record preserved or to an inspection of the original writing or record, or other rights in connection therewith, shall have the same rights as to the photostat, photographic or microphotographic plate or film, or prints made therefrom, in the event the original is not available. The custodian of such plate or film shall provide for the ready location of particular records so reproduced on plate or film and shall provide a projector or other convenient means for viewing the records so reproduced by those entitled thereto, and said custodian shall furnish a legible print or copy of such plate or film to such persons as are entitled to a copy of the original record. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to allow the destruction or other disposition of original records which by statutory enactment now are, or hereafter may be, required to be preserved for inspection or for other purposes. (c) For the purposes of this section, the term “business” shall mean and include any private business, industry, profession, occupation or calling of any kind. The term “record” or “records” as used in this section shall mean and include any writing or record as described in subsection (a) of this section, heretofore made or which may be made after May 21, 1951.