Dashcam - Asking for trouble?

[xxxyyyzzz]

sonnenschein3000 said:

Whats the view on dashcams and potential self-incrimination now?

I'm looking at getting a dashcam because I don't want to fall victim to something like this: https://youtu.be/SeIPZ5f9nX4

But then on the other hand, I don't want any footage which could be used against me for minor motoring infringements

Then don't commit and minor motoring infringements

[xxxyyyzzz]

sonnenschein3000 said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

Then don't commit and minor motoring infringements

Because you've never done 75mph on a motorway?

Well it’s not me contemplating fitting a dashcam and flouting the road traffic regulations. Go figure.
Perhaps examine an entry for yourself in the Darwin awards.

[sonnenschein3000]

xxxyyyzzz said:

Well it’s not me contemplating fitting a dashcam and flouting the road traffic regulations. Go figure.
Perhaps examine an entry for yourself in the Darwin awards.

Well I'm not talking about flouting road traffic regulations on purpose, I'm talking about minor, genuine mistakes that nobody would normally care about, but could potentially be stretched to careless driving or speeding etc. if an overzealous policeman gets hold of it

But okay I get your point. I didn't appreciate the comment about the Darwin award though :/

NOTE: To clarify: As a careful and competent driver at all times, I have never committed any minor motoring infringements and I never will do in the future. I have not in the past, and will not in the future inadvertently or otherwise infringe the laws that relate to the rules of the road as I am and will remain a careful and competent driver that has always, and will always pay full attention to the road, its traffic, its lane markings, its sign posts, its traffic lights and other signals, its surroundings as well as anticipate any potential hazards. I will always give full consideration to other road users to ensure that they are not at all inconvenienced by my driving in any way, and I shall always remain at or below the speed limit applicable for the road in the vehicle that I am driving. This is backed up by the fact that in all my years of driving, I have never had any motoring convictions or been involved in any motoring accidents.

The purpose of my post was to investigate the self-incrimination aspect of having one's dashcam analysed by authorities, by asking the question on here in the context of a hypothetical situation whereby if were to make a trivial driving error, and that being captured by a dashcam, what action would be taken by the authorities?
Furthermore, I do not have a dashcam at this present moment, and the responses on this thread in relation to my hypothetical question will not influence my decision to buy one or not buy one.

Edited by sonnenschein3000 on Saturday 23 September 22:16

[Pica-Pica]

sonnenschein3000 said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

Well it’s not me contemplating fitting a dashcam and flouting the road traffic regulations. Go figure.
Perhaps examine an entry for yourself in the Darwin awards.

Well I'm not talking about flouting road traffic regulations on purpose, I'm talking about minor, genuine mistakes that nobody would normally care about, but could potentially be stretched to careless driving or speeding etc. if an overzealous policeman gets hold of it

But okay I get your point. I didn't appreciate the comment about the Darwin award though :/[/quote
Or even a police officer! A bit of casual gender stereotyping eh?

[TooMany2cvs]

sonnenschein3000 said:

Well I'm not talking about flouting road traffic regulations on purpose, I'm talking about minor, genuine mistakes that nobody would normally care about, but could potentially be stretched to careless driving or speeding etc. if an overzealous policeman gets hold of it

Really? Almost every time I've exceeded the speed limit - certainly by a substantial enough margin that a dashcam would be incriminating - it's been utterly intentional.

[sonnenschein3000]

TooMany2cvs said:

Really? Almost every time I've exceeded the speed limit - certainly by a substantial enough margin that a dashcam would be incriminating - it's been utterly intentional.

Substantial enough margin? You mean a margin of 1mph then, given that it shows what speed you're doing in the corner of the screen?

NOTE: To clarify: As a careful and competent driver at all times, I have never committed any minor motoring infringements and I never will do in the future. I have not in the past, and will not in the future inadvertently or otherwise infringe the laws that relate to the rules of the road as I am and will remain a careful and competent driver that has always, and will always pay full attention to the road, its traffic, its lane markings, its sign posts, its traffic lights and other signals, its surroundings as well as anticipate any potential hazards. I will always give full consideration to other road users to ensure that they are not at all inconvenienced by my driving in any way, and I shall always remain at or below the speed limit applicable for the road in the vehicle that I am driving. This is backed up by the fact that in all my years of driving, I have never had any motoring convictions or been involved in any motoring accidents.

The purpose of my post was to investigate the self-incrimination aspect of having one's dashcam analysed by authorities, by asking the question on here in the context of a hypothetical situation whereby if were to make a trivial driving error, and that being captured by a dashcam, what action would be taken by the authorities?
Furthermore, I do not have a dashcam at this present moment, and the responses on this thread in relation to my hypothetical question will not influence my decision to buy one or not buy one.

Edited by sonnenschein3000 on Saturday 23 September 22:15

[xxxyyyzzz]

sonnenschein3000 said:

TooMany2cvs said:

Really? Almost every time I've exceeded the speed limit - certainly by a substantial enough margin that a dashcam would be incriminating - it's been utterly intentional.

Substantial enough margin? You mean a margin of 1mph then, given that it shows what speed you're doing in the corner of the screen?

NOTE: To clarify: As a careful and competent driver at all times, I have never committed any minor motoring infringements and I never will do in the future. I have not in the past, and will not in the future inadvertently or otherwise infringe the laws that relate to the rules of the road as I am and will remain a careful and competent driver that has always, and will always pay full attention to the road, its traffic, its lane markings, its sign posts, its traffic lights and other signals, its surroundings as well as anticipate any potential hazards. I will always give full consideration to other road users to ensure that they are not at all inconvenienced by my driving in any way, and I shall always remain at or below the speed limit applicable for the road in the vehicle that I am driving. This is backed up by the fact that in all my years of driving, I have never had any motoring convictions or been involved in any motoring accidents.

So drive exactly like you are supposed to. Well done.

sonnenschein3000 said:

The purpose of my post was to investigate the self-incrimination aspect of having one's dashcam analysed by authorities, by asking the question on here in the context of a hypothetical situation whereby if were to make a trivial driving error, and that being captured by a dashcam, what action would be taken by the authorities?
Furthermore, I do not have a dashcam at this present moment, and the responses on this thread in relation to my hypothetical question will not influence my decision to buy one or not buy one.

The authorities are not going to be interested in minor transgressions at all. As you intend not to commit any then that isn't a worry anyway.
If you have a dashcam and you commit a big violation then they will be interested in any dashcam films you have. And note, there needs to be no speed display in it to work out your speed.
Happy hunting.

[sonnenschein3000]

xxxyyyzzz said:

The authorities are not going to be interested in minor transgressions at all.

This answers my question. Thank you

[Psycho Warren]

My dashcam has a lock feature with a dash button. Have a bash, push the button and it locks the file from deletion for the length of the file (how long you set up the file size on the system - 1 minute in my case). You can then safely format the card on the dashcam and it leaves the locked footage fine and all others wiped.

Now we all know deleted footage can be wiped, but they'd have to have a serious bee in thier bonnet to authorise the very expensive forensic recovery of data when its clearly irrelevant to the accident.

If i was really paranoid, id wipe card, then let it record again. It will re-write over the old footage (except locked ones i want to keep). Even computer forensics cant undo overwritten videos very well.


Alternatively don't drive like a complete bell end and you have nothing to worry about. And if it all goes tits, up pull out SD card, stick it down drain or eat it.

[Who me ?]

TooMany2cvs said:

Really? Almost every time I've exceeded the speed limit - certainly by a substantial enough margin that a dashcam would be incriminating - it's been utterly intentional.

Likewise, but my dashcam only records -no GPS function.
i have hesitantly switched on sound after one incident where I used the horn as per HC- to advise a driver I suspected of opening a door into me .i stopped to get a torrent of abuse, that stopped when he spotted the dashcam.

[xxxyyyzzz]

Psycho Warren said:

My dashcam has a lock feature with a dash button. Have a bash, push the button and it locks the file from deletion for the length of the file (how long you set up the file size on the system - 1 minute in my case). You can then safely format the card on the dashcam and it leaves the locked footage fine and all others wiped.

Now we all know deleted footage can be wiped, but they'd have to have a serious bee in thier bonnet to authorise the very expensive forensic recovery of data when its clearly irrelevant to the accident.

If i was really paranoid, id wipe card, then let it record again. It will re-write over the old footage (except locked ones i want to keep). Even computer forensics cant undo overwritten videos very well.


Alternatively don't drive like a complete bell end and you have nothing to worry about. And if it all goes tits, up pull out SD card, stick it down drain or eat it.

Well they wouldn't know that it was relevant or otherwise until it was recovered and examined would they?

[xxxyyyzzz]

[quote=Who me ?]
Likewise, but my dashcam only records -no GPS function.
i have hesitantly switched on sound after one incident where I used the horn as per HC- to advise a driver I suspected of opening a door into me .i stopped to get a torrent of abuse, that stopped when he spotted the dashcam.
[/quote]
What difference does that make?

Edited by xxxyyyzzz on Tuesday 26th September 11:11

[pavarotti1980]

xxxyyyzzz said:

What difference does that make?

Without GPS it is unable to record your speed

[TooMany2cvs]

pavarotti1980 said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

What difference does that make?

Without GPS it is unable to record your speed

Because, of course, it's utterly impossible to calculate your speed from the footage.

Oh, and if it's going to be a big legal issue, the charges won't be for exceeding the speed limit.

[xxxyyyzzz]

TooMany2cvs said:

pavarotti1980 said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

What difference does that make?

Without GPS it is unable to record your speed

Because, of course, it's utterly impossible to calculate your speed from the footage.

Oh, and if it's going to be a big legal issue, the charges won't be for exceeding the speed limit.

Oh dear!
No issues with sorting the speed of the car out from a front or rear facing dashcam.
Courts accept the speeds and have convicted on it many times.
I calculated 3 yesterday.
Good luck.

[Psycho Warren]

xxxyyyzzz said:

Well they wouldn't know that it was relevant or otherwise until it was recovered and examined would they?

when theyve watched the minute or two of footage they should have ALL they need to decide fault at that time.

I cannot see any accident on UK roads that would require footage from a considerable time before except perhaps some extended road rage crazyness when they might want to go back 10 minutes to see if you cut the person up triggering thier behaviour. However thats very unlikely and is going to be clear pretty quickly at the scene.

So wanting any further footage previous to the incident is just them looking for other unrelated offences.

[xxxyyyzzz]

Psycho Warren said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

Well they wouldn't know that it was relevant or otherwise until it was recovered and examined would they?

when theyve watched the minute or two of footage they should have ALL they need to decide fault at that time.

I cannot see any accident on UK roads that would require footage from a considerable time before except perhaps some extended road rage crazyness when they might want to go back 10 minutes to see if you cut the person up triggering thier behaviour. However thats very unlikely and is going to be clear pretty quickly at the scene.

So wanting any further footage previous to the incident is just them looking for other unrelated offences.

Or on the other hand to find other offences or behaviours that are entirely relevant.

[Dr Jekyll]

xxxyyyzzz said:

Psycho Warren said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

Well they wouldn't know that it was relevant or otherwise until it was recovered and examined would they?

when theyve watched the minute or two of footage they should have ALL they need to decide fault at that time.

I cannot see any accident on UK roads that would require footage from a considerable time before except perhaps some extended road rage crazyness when they might want to go back 10 minutes to see if you cut the person up triggering thier behaviour. However thats very unlikely and is going to be clear pretty quickly at the scene.

So wanting any further footage previous to the incident is just them looking for other unrelated offences.

Or on the other hand to find other offences or behaviours that are entirely relevant.

How does that work considering you already have footage of the accident itself?

'Yes you may have doing 15MPH with priority when the drunk crossed a give way line without looking and T boned you, but 3 hours before you briefly hit 75MPH so it's your fault'.

[Who me ?]

xxxyyyzzz said:

TooMany2cvs said:

pavarotti1980 said:

xxxyyyzzz said:

What difference does that make?

Without GPS it is unable to record your speed

Because, of course, it's utterly impossible to calculate your speed from the footage.

Oh, and if it's going to be a big legal issue, the charges won't be for exceeding the speed limit.

Oh dear!
No issues with sorting the speed of the car out from a front or rear facing dashcam.
Courts accept the speeds and have convicted on it many times.
I calculated 3 yesterday.
Good luck.

problem with sound is that when faced with road rage-I've had it for using horn to warn someone that I was there and opening door might lead to a collision, he got out of car when I was stopped and threatened me, it's useful., but it also records our in car conversations.
But have we another case of Cap't Pugwash AKA PITMANSBOOTS et all ( other user names are available, but PH have yet to ban him for the countless others) surfacing from the deep.

[Psycho Warren]

Dr Jekyll said:

How does that work considering you already have footage of the accident itself?

'Yes you may have doing 15MPH with priority when the drunk crossed a give way line without looking and T boned you, but 3 hours before you briefly hit 75MPH so it's your fault'.

Exactly. if they have the evidence they need in front of them for the offences they have in front of them, they would need some very good reason to need to get the rest of the SD card forensically undeleted. Doubt they could get that authorised without some kind of reasonable cause.