Dashcam Question relating to the law

[anonymous-user]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 06 February 2023 at 13:42

[Ham_and_Jam]

Using a hand held device is not permitted, so the camera should be secured whilst stationary.

Once in a cradle / mount you can operate (touch screen / buttons) when safe do do so when moving, i.e recording a clip etc

[LosingGrip]

If your driving is effected by what you are doing it could be due care/not in proper control.

[dundarach]

If it's not a communications device, then it's not the same.

Yes you could still fall foul of due care etc.

[Aretnap]

If it's capable of transmitting and recieving data (eg over Bluetooth) then it would be subject to the same laws as mobile phones (whether or not it's actually transmitting data at the time). If it doesn't transmit anything and purely saves data to an SD card or similar then it would not be subject to mobile phone laws.

If it is subject to mobile phone laws, the law does still require that it be "used", not merely "touched" or "held". The law gives a broad list of things that are classed as "using" which includes "utilising camera, video, or sound recording functionality" (so no saving/locking clips), but the list doesn't include "putting the device in it's mount". It's a non-exhaustive list though so it seems to be a somewhat open question whether replacing a dashcam (or a phone for that matter) in it's mount can be an offence.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2022/81/made

Regardless of mobile phone laws, careless driving or driving while not in a position to have proper control could apply if fiddling with the camera affected your driving.

[MustangGT]

I agree with Aretnap.

Personally would never consider trying to remount a dashcam unless I was totally stationary at the time. Due car/Careless/Dangerous could be used as a charge dependent on outcome.