Dash cameras

[Camera man]

We are increasingly being asked if a Police Officer can confiscate a memory card from one of our RoadHawk black box video cameras.

I am aware that in the case of an accident this would probably be a normal occurrence as it is vital evidence, but the concern is that someone can be pulled and the Officer could then ask for the card.

Some people have suggested the Officer would need a warrant????

[HotJambalaya]

Very interested in this too. Very curious if they stop you and notice you have one, if they can demand the card...

-Who's asking you?

[Camera man]

HotJambalaya said:

Very interested in this too. Very curious if they stop you and notice you have one, if they can demand the card...

-Who's asking you?

Quite a lot of domestic customers who, although buying the system for insurance purposes are concerned about self incriminaion (eg video showing accurate speed of 75 on the motorway)

[GC8]

Carry a spare.

[Bigyoke]

I don't believe it can be demanded speculatively but it could be seized as evidence of an offence, although You'd have to have been arrested for an indictable offence for the officer to enter your vehicle to take it if you refused to surrender the device

[GC8]

Is it not susceptible to the 'I suspect' means of empowerment?

In order to protect myself from speculative abuse of authority such as this I have several TransFlash cards. If I was stopped I would immediately remove the card. You can imagine the rest, I am sure.

[Bigyoke]

Excess Speed alone is a summary offence, so if you refuse to surrender the device the officer has no power to enter your vehicle to retrieve it, unless they obtain a warrant or arrest you.

[Tomo1971]

Some of the dash cams encrypt the data and a password, via the software that comes with the device is required to look at the files.

Now, I obvioulsy dont know on how good the encryption is, or how far plod would go to break the password or encryption on the files.

[divetheworld]

I use a Lukas LK7900, LK7700 and LK7300 accross my different cars. They all have the same useful feature. Press both buttons simultaneously and the card is formatted. Problem solved.

[Camera man]

Tomo1971 said:

Some of the dash cams encrypt the data and a password, via the software that comes with the device is required to look at the files.

Now, I obvioulsy dont know on how good the encryption is, or how far plod would go to break the password or encryption on the files.

Many Police forces have the viewing software for our cameras (they use them).

[tokyo_mb]

Tomo1971 said:

Now, I obvioulsy dont know on how good the encryption is, or how far plod would go to break the password or encryption on the files.

Doesn't matter how good the encryption is. If they have reason enough to persuade a court they need the password, you face the choice of jail time or giving them the password: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_disclosure_law#Un...

[toerag]

If you drive like an idiot don't have a dash-cam? (or at least turn it off when your driving like an idiot)

[jbsportstech]

I read it just speeding no, but dangerous or causing death by dangerous they may be able to use the footage.

It's ok thinking your jolly clever having a format feature but a jury may wonder why you felt the need to format it just after an accident,,,,,presume guilt as why would an individual do that if not guilty, I am not 100% convinced formatting doesn't stop you recovering the data.

[GC8]

Formatting isnt quite as clever as people seem to think. The data is still there and requires very basic computing skills to recover it.

If in doubt, take it out (and replace it with an infraction free replacement).

[Bigyoke]

GC8 said:

If in doubt, take it out (and replace it with an infraction free replacement).

Problem is once the footage is viewed it'll probably be obvious that the card has been swapped from date/time stamp, weather, light conditions, absence of other vehicles involved etc.

[Mill Wheel]

divetheworld said:

I use a Lukas LK7900, LK7700 and LK7300 accross my different cars. They all have the same useful feature. Press both buttons simultaneously and the card is formatted. Problem solved.

Checkout ZAR software - (Zero Assumption Recovery).

I have rescued data from numerous cards that have been accidentally formatted, or become faulty.

You need to rewrite all the sectors to destroy the data on the card.

[GC8]

If the device is hard wired then I agree, but most arent so there is now way of knowing whether the device was turned on or recording.

Even if they know, they wont be able to use the missing video against you.

[smiffy180]

divetheworld said:

I use a Lukas LK7900, LK7700 and LK7300 accross my different cars. They all have the same useful feature. Press both buttons simultaneously and the card is formatted. Problem solved.

How is the LK7900? I was looking at it a few months back but haven't looked at dash cams in a while

[divetheworld]

Mill Wheel said:

Checkout ZAR software - (Zero Assumption Recovery).

I have rescued data from numerous cards that have been accidentally formatted, or become faulty.

You need to rewrite all the sectors to destroy the data on the card.

Good call. Spare card then.
Thanks, and to everyone who said the same.

smiffy180 said:

How is the LK7900? I was looking at it a few months back but haven't looked at dash cams in a while

They are very good. Reliable, good quality video. The part that made me buy one was the polarising filter on the front. got rid of those pesky dash reflections. I was so happy with it for the daily drive that I bought one for the front and back of my garage queen.
They make a few 1080p versions. the LK7900ACE, LK7700 and LK7300.
The 7900 is a Sony sensor, the 7700 is the same without a Sony brand sensor. I havnt done a detailed back to back comparison but I dont think there is much in it but a significant price difference. Makes the LK7700 a good value unit.
The 7300 is a small camera with a seperate DVR unit. Nice if you want a stealthy/discrete install otherwise a lot of money for what it is.
They do make dual camera versions but the frame rate drops from 30fps to 20 for the front and 10 for the back. Thats a bit poo I reckon.
If I remember correctly, I got all mine from an ebay seller called "greensum". Good seller.
I uploaded a youtube vid and despite the losses in that format, registrations are readable from 10m away on freeze frame.
They are fully customisable in firmware. You remove the SD card and put it in your computer. Run their config software and the full user interface is very comprehensive. Set it up how you want, then insert the card in the dashcam. All the settings are now transferred to the camera. Very easy.

[smiffy180]

divetheworld said:

They are very good. Reliable, good quality video. The part that made me buy one was the polarising filter on the front. got rid of those pesky dash reflections. I was so happy with it for the daily drive that I bought one for the front and back of my garage queen.
They make a few 1080p versions. the LK7900ACE, LK7700 and LK7300.
The 7900 is a Sony sensor, the 7700 is the same without a Sony brand sensor. I havnt done a detailed back to back comparison but I dont think there is much in it but a significant price difference. Makes the LK7700 a good value unit.
The 7300 is a small camera with a seperate DVR unit. Nice if you want a stealthy/discrete install otherwise a lot of money for what it is.
They do make dual camera versions but the frame rate drops from 30fps to 20 for the front and 10 for the back. Thats a bit poo I reckon.
If I remember correctly, I got all mine from an ebay seller called "greensum". Good seller.
I uploaded a youtube vid and despite the losses in that format, registrations are readable from 10m away on freeze frame.
They are fully customisable in firmware. You remove the SD card and put it in your computer. Run their config software and the full user interface is very comprehensive. Set it up how you want, then insert the card in the dashcam. All the settings are now transferred to the camera. Very easy.

Cheers