Appeal from a judgment of the District Court of Nassau County, Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (Gino Papa, J.H.O.), entered May 20, 2011. The judgment, after a nonjury trial, convicted defendant of failing to stop at a stop sign. ORDERED that the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

Following a nonjury trial, defendant was convicted of failing to stop at a stop sign (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1172 [a]). The only issue defendant raises on appeal is that the police officer was mistaken when he claimed to have observed defendant fail to come to a complete stop at a stop line.

Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People (People v Contes, 60 NY2d 620, 621 [1983]), we find that the officer's testimony that he had observed defendant failing to come to a complete stop was legally sufficient to establish defendant's guilt of the offense charged. Moreover, in conducting our independent review of the weight of the evidence (see CPL 470.15 [5]; People v Danielson, 9 NY3d 342 [2007]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d 490, 495 [1987]), we accord great deference to the factfinder's opportunity to view the witnesses, hear their testimony, observe their demeanor and assess their credibility (see People v Lane, 7 NY3d 888, 890 [2006]; People v Mateo, 2 NY3d 383, 410 [2004]). Upon our review of the record, we find that the judgment convicting defendant of failing to stop at a stop sign was not against the weight of the evidence (see People v Romero, 7 NY3d 633, 643-644 [2006]; People v Bleakley, 69 NY2d at 493).

Accordingly, the judgment of conviction is affirmed.

Iannacci, J.P., Molia and LaCava, JJ., concur.
Decision Date: October 10, 2012