Dash Cams - illegal?
Discussion
PixelpeepS3 said:
Not sure if this has been covered but are dashcams with screens illegal for use while driving?
I thought that you couldn't have a screen visible to the driver that shows anything other than an 'aid' for the driver (information/navigation)?
Its perfectly legal to have your phone visible as long as you are not holding it. Loads of cars also have of entertainment systems with screens.I thought that you couldn't have a screen visible to the driver that shows anything other than an 'aid' for the driver (information/navigation)?
EU_Foreigner said:
Whilst the UK police love them for prosecuting drivers for minor infringements caught on other car's dash cams.
Yup, some b
d truck driver dobbed me in for crossing a solid white line. Bang to rights, I don't dispute that...but come on! I've got a dashcam of my own, i've been tempted to dob people in for dickish driving, but in reality I can't be arsed.EU_Foreigner said:
My daughter had the same, overtaking a slow moving/crawling vehicle but was returning over a solid line. Absolute offense but really ??
I stand to be corrected, but I thought it was ok if the obstruction was stationary or traveling below a certain speed?I don't know what that speed is though, and I could be monumentally wrong.
I ANAL in fact I barely qualify as an adult.
jesta1865 said:
EU_Foreigner said:
My daughter had the same, overtaking a slow moving/crawling vehicle but was returning over a solid line. Absolute offense but really ??
I stand to be corrected, but I thought it was ok if the obstruction was stationary or traveling below a certain speed?I don't know what that speed is though, and I could be monumentally wrong.
I ANAL in fact I barely qualify as an adult.
Rule 129
Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
Getting back to the original topic - are dashcams legal?
Looks like privacy issues could make them 'illegal' in some countries but that it hasn't been tested in any court in the UK?
Could it be argued that if the police use dashcam footage from another vehicle that it is illegal because it is now being used to identify me without my consent and that it therefore breaches Data Protection regulations? The dashcam user has become a data controller and is required to adhere to ICO guidelines?
Hope someone on PH has an informed view rather than the rubbish on the AA or RAC websites.
Looks like privacy issues could make them 'illegal' in some countries but that it hasn't been tested in any court in the UK?
Could it be argued that if the police use dashcam footage from another vehicle that it is illegal because it is now being used to identify me without my consent and that it therefore breaches Data Protection regulations? The dashcam user has become a data controller and is required to adhere to ICO guidelines?
Hope someone on PH has an informed view rather than the rubbish on the AA or RAC websites.
MarcelM6 said:
Could it be argued that if the police use dashcam footage from another vehicle that it is illegal because it is now being used to identify me without my consent and that it therefore breaches Data Protection regulations? The dashcam user has become a data controller and is required to adhere to ICO guidelines?
In public, no.http://www.theiac.org.uk/resourcesnew/filming-in-p...
The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers said:
Britain does not have specific guarantees of privacy in law, so no one can stop you filming them
They grey area comes with publication, whilst you cant prevent someone from filming in a public place where there is no reasonable expectation to privacy, they cannot publish it without your consent (often called a "model's release").Also, your license plate no. isn't covered under the Data Protection Act as it's not PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
captain_cynic said:
They grey area comes with publication, whilst you cant prevent someone from filming in a public place where there is no reasonable expectation to privacy, they cannot publish it without your consent (often called a "model's release").
Also, your license plate no. isn't covered under the Data Protection Act as it's not PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
Also, this is only half correct. The ICO considers vehicle registration numbers personal data unless the vehicle belongs to a company. In practice, that means most UK number plate data must be treated as protected (unless the data set is somehow known to include only non-personally registered vehicles).Also, your license plate no. isn't covered under the Data Protection Act as it's not PII (Personally Identifiable Information).
"Any data from which an individual can be identified is personal data for the purposes of the DPA. This includes images of an individual from which they are recognisable and vehicle registration numbers collected for the purpose of identifying vehicle keepers who contravene parking restrictions. These are personal data at the point they are collected, regardless of whether the organisation actually goes on to identify the owner of vehicle or not."
AllyBassman said:
EU_Foreigner said:
Whilst the UK police love them for prosecuting drivers for minor infringements caught on other car's dash cams.
Yup, some b
d truck driver dobbed me in for crossing a solid white line. Bang to rights, I don't dispute that...but come on! I've got a dashcam of my own, i've been tempted to dob people in for dickish driving, but in reality I can't be arsed.So does that mean that all these videos on YouTube etc that have number plates clearly shown are doing so illegally?
Side question, when people film something and save it, they seem to press a button (I don't have one so don't know). If they do that whilst moving, aren't they breaking the law under the same rules that mean you can't touch a sat nav whilst moving?
If that's so can it be used to prosecute the driver potentially?
Side question, when people film something and save it, they seem to press a button (I don't have one so don't know). If they do that whilst moving, aren't they breaking the law under the same rules that mean you can't touch a sat nav whilst moving?
If that's so can it be used to prosecute the driver potentially?
sergi1987 said:
So does that mean that all these videos on YouTube etc that have number plates clearly shown are doing so illegally?
Side question, when people film something and save it, they seem to press a button (I don't have one so don't know). If they do that whilst moving, aren't they breaking the law under the same rules that mean you can't touch a sat nav whilst moving?
If that's so can it be used to prosecute the driver potentially?
What rule is this then?Side question, when people film something and save it, they seem to press a button (I don't have one so don't know). If they do that whilst moving, aren't they breaking the law under the same rules that mean you can't touch a sat nav whilst moving?
If that's so can it be used to prosecute the driver potentially?

twister said:
So collecting VRNs for any other reason means they're not considered PII and are therefore fair game to be captured on a dashcam?
That quote was pulled from a document on the ICO website, but it is not a complete statement of their position. Yours is an odd conclusion to draw from it, however... As it happens, there is a significant exemption for "domestic purposes", Section 36, which ordinarily exempts individuals from compliance with the DPA. Anyone else would either have to comply with the DPA (and soon the GDPR) or find another exemption.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff



