[Archived]

I got to thinking about a sign in the context of Tim’s observations.

If I had a sign saying I am recording stuff while I drive, and I am the one doing something stupid, the sign just alerts the cop and my victim that I have recorded my dumb driving stunt. Now if I am guilty of a dumb stunt and am involved in an accident I can hide the camera.

[Stephen and Michelle]

“Now if I am guilty of a dumb stunt and am involved in an accident I can hide the camera.”

Hmm…Several problems with this.

First, the police or victim may have seen your sign saying you have a recording device which will lead the police to ask for “consent” to search your RV. If you say no, the police then get a search warrant based on the probable cause from either the victim or the sign that you have hanging in your RV.

Second, if you had sufficient time or are able to act methodically during a crisis situation which allows you to destroy the evidence by either throwing it out your window or by erasing the digital recording, there is Cyber software to recover lost data, which just means the Police charge you with destruction of evidence in addition to a traffic violation.

Third, if your video recorder is equipped with audio, anything you said prior, during, or after becomes discoverable. Take it from me, “we” say “dumb” things in the heat of battle.

Finally, if your dash cam does have a audio recording device, each State has different “Consensual Monitoring” standards called “One-Party” or “Two-Party” States. One-Party means what it says, “You” are the consenting party and you do not need the consent of the second party to record their conversation. However, in Two-Party States, you “do” need their consent to record their conversation. This means if your dash cam continues to operate/record after any accident and it records both you & the other party’s conversation, you would be in violation of that States’ consensual recording law.

I’m not arguing against using a Dash Cam, just furnishing information that you want to keep in mind if you equip your RV with this technology.

[Bernie]

Follow Wahsington DC’s lead, just erase the tape.

[Bill]

That’ll work too 🙂

[Tim]

That is why you shut your volume and GPS off on the unit.

Later

bv

[AL]

It’s those gaps in the tapes that gets you, Nixon Tom.

Davy