When you look at the legality of what is allowed and required in dash cam recordings and generally using them for different purposes, you come across concerns that also existed around the use of cameras at the infancy of the photographic era. Today, however, the spread of technology as well as the connectivity of our lives seem to have solved many of the concerns that made using a camera a legal problem at all.
Many people who are unfamiliar with this topic may not know what a dash cam is. The more formal term for them is a dashboard camera. Essentially, they are small cameras mounted behind windshields of vehicles to capture information about the driver and surroundings at any time. Being so small and discreet, they seem like the perfect addition to smart technology and self-driving cars.
However, the key to the use of these cameras is that you must know what you are doing with them. If you are not careful, you could end up with major legal trouble. Understanding the regulations surrounding dash cams in California can help you avoid this.
California Dash Cam Laws
A dash cam needs a bright red light to capture footage at night or in the dark. Many cars today have either a wiring harness or direct power on the dashboard which demands that the red light be turned off if left unattended. This will prevent the red light from shining on other vehicles and drivers on the road and impairing their vision and causing an accident in the process. Kinds of lighting devices that are more commonly found on police vehicles are not allowed, such as fabric sleeves or colored lights.
The law also mandates that any dash cam camera must be securely affixed to the windshield. In California, you aren’t allowed to place a device on the front windshield of your vehicle if it interferes with your vision. There are some exceptions to this rule, however, where you can have a device smaller than five inches by five inches. Believe it or not, the law in this case also allows for a similar device on the rear window, too, even if it’s bigger than the previous standard. Just remember, it can’t interfere with your ability to see anything on the road.
In-vehicle electronic devices
A dash cam is not the only kind of in-vehicle electronic device that the law restricts. You can use a portable GPS or satellite device, however, these are also required to be adequately mounted to prevent obstruction of the driver’s view. The law demands that it’s directly in front of you-not stuck to the windshield or dash plate by suction or anything else. Think of it in terms of having road information smack dab in the center of the steering wheel. While these devices can be used during most times, their use can be limited within emergency areas.
There are accusations that the lower courts in California were biased against a driver that uses a dash cam. In a case out of California involving a dash cam, the car’s driver recorded someone trying to smash his car’s window. The driver tried to charge the other parties involved for vandalism and threatening him, but the other party successfully argued that the driver violated the law by using his car in this way. The principle here is that these devices should only be used for certain purposes and in a fair manner.