Dash Cams in Europe

Author
Discussion

Finlandia

7,803 posts

230 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
NinjaPower said:
So let me get this straight... In numerous counties in Europe, if I was on holiday and stood in the street casually filming the traffic and goings on around me with my camera, that would actually be illegal??
In Sweden the word is 'fixed', holding a camera in your hand is fine, mounting it to something is not.

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
I'd just leave it; what are chances of it being spotted? If you're really anal un plug it.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
Wow.

I never knew any of that.

I wrongly assumed we were all fairly similar with regards to photography laws in Europe.

bad company

Original Poster:

18,484 posts

265 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
NinjaPower said:
Wow.

I never knew any of that.

I wrongly assumed we were all fairly similar with regards to photography laws in Europe.
Yep, I got the information I needed for my trip. Thanks again PH. clap

talksthetorque

10,815 posts

134 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
No point in me looking for a cheap dashcam when I go this week then.


Funk

26,254 posts

208 months

Monday 11th May 2015
quotequote all
Here's a question - why, with all these new 'fancy dan' lights that can do all sorts - is there not an option for 'LHD/RHD' in the menu system? The beams are no longer made by angled lenses in the headlight body itself so why can't it be set to easily swap between both?

Moily

167 posts

140 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Finlandia said:
Just to add, even if you didn't ask, here in Sweden dash cams are illegal if they are mounted to the car, holding it in your hand is legal though, seriously, I kid you not.
It'd be interesting to see if helmet cams are also illegal? More and more bikers are using them and they're arguably more visible than dashcams but do they count as 'hand-held' because they're on the person?

Finlandia

7,803 posts

230 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Moily said:
Finlandia said:
Just to add, even if you didn't ask, here in Sweden dash cams are illegal if they are mounted to the car, holding it in your hand is legal though, seriously, I kid you not.
It'd be interesting to see if helmet cams are also illegal? More and more bikers are using them and they're arguably more visible than dashcams but do they count as 'hand-held' because they're on the person?
A bit of a grey zone, but for now it looks like helmet mounted cameras are seen as hand held (as they are on the person instead of on the vehicle), so should be legal. Having said that, I can't really recall ever seeing one here.

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
I've seen a helmet cam here in Germany, and also regular dashcams in use

Halmyre

11,148 posts

138 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Funk said:
Here's a question - why, with all these new 'fancy dan' lights that can do all sorts - is there not an option for 'LHD/RHD' in the menu system? The beams are no longer made by angled lenses in the headlight body itself so why can't it be set to easily swap between both?
This is a question I've been asking as well. On a previous iteration (Mk2) of the MX5 you set the little control wheel (for headlamp height) to '3' or something like that for driving on the right. But I can't find any information about the latest model. Mazda UK's web site suggests contacting your dealer for technical queries, which is taking the piss in no uncertain terms.

AA999

5,180 posts

216 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Been reading the internet regarding the legalities...
Luxembourg and Austria state they ban fixed dashcams that record events out of the car. BUT it seems there is confusion over the intended use of the footage.
If the footage is recorded for 'evidence' then its illegal, but if the footage is recorded for personal holiday/tourist footage, then it is ok.

So a passenger holding a camcorder or fixed mobile phone should be fine, and as long as it can be shown that one is not recording the full journey(?).
But a fixed dashcam intended to record evidence for legal issues can result in a 10,000euro fine in Austria.


anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Well it sounds like Austria and a few other countries are terrific places to carry out all your 'cash for crash' crimes!

Nigel Worc's

8,121 posts

187 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
I've driven in many of the Countries listed with my roadhawk in my car/van.

I'd never even thought to check about legalities, it just never crossed my mind, radar detectors, scamera scum yes, but a dashcam ... no !

Nobody has ever questioned it.

markh1973

1,787 posts

167 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Funk said:
Here's a question - why, with all these new 'fancy dan' lights that can do all sorts - is there not an option for 'LHD/RHD' in the menu system? The beams are no longer made by angled lenses in the headlight body itself so why can't it be set to easily swap between both?
My XC90 has just such a thing. You hold down the button that turns on and off the adaptive headlights and it switches between driving on the right or left.

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Cabrony said:
Does anyone know if dash cams are legal/illegal in France and Italy?
Not Illegal but must not distract the driver or obscure your vision.


liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Tuesday 12th May 2015
quotequote all
Funk said:
Here's a question - why, with all these new 'fancy dan' lights that can do all sorts - is there not an option for 'LHD/RHD' in the menu system? The beams are no longer made by angled lenses in the headlight body itself so why can't it be set to easily swap between both?
My Skoda Superb had just that a "tourist " mode selectable in the set up menu , takes seconds and stays on that setting until you change it

My new Skoda does it automatically as the lights are connected to the sat nav

Skodaku

1,805 posts

218 months

Saturday 16th May 2015
quotequote all
liner33 said:
My Skoda Superb had just that a "tourist " mode selectable in the set up menu , takes seconds and stays on that setting until you change it

My new Skoda does it automatically as the lights are connected to the sat nav
Now that is how it should be done. Bravo Mr Skoda.

oilspill

649 posts

192 months

Friday 29th May 2015
quotequote all

it's a complete hash job
German Police have dash cams. Nobody can expect privacy on public roads. If I was entitled to privacy I will remove my number plate or fake one, and black out the windows, but I'm not allowed.

oyster

12,577 posts

247 months

Friday 29th May 2015
quotequote all
La Liga said:
I'm quite surprised it's illegal in some countries. Seems a little too restrictive by the state.
Some may view the concept of NOT being filmed as freedom.

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Friday 29th May 2015
quotequote all
oyster said:
La Liga said:
I'm quite surprised it's illegal in some countries. Seems a little too restrictive by the state.
Some may view the concept of NOT being filmed as freedom.
That's exactly what I thought upon reading that comment. Freedom to be monitored! rofl