Dash Cam Laws:

Are Dash Cameras Legal in Commercial Vehicles?

If you want to start a heated debate with commercial truck drivers, just mention dash cams. Conversations about these devices often sway from individual dash cam laws to philosophical concerns to conspiracies and right back again.

Since dash cams are shifting from a recommendation to a requirement for lots of businesses, this is a great time to get a basic understanding of dash cams laws for commercial vehicles, and explore the nuances around driver-facing dash cams. Many transportation companies have quelled their employees’ worries concerning forward-facing cameras, however, many drivers are wary about having one aimed at them. 

In this blog, we’ll give an overview of dash cam law basics, and cover the forward-facing dash cam law debate. Just remember: this information is not to be taken as legal advice.  

Dash Cam Laws by State

While laws defining the use of dashboard cameras may vary slightly by state, they share enough commonalities to be divided into four main groups. Those segments focus on providing a clear view through the front windshield and legally obtaining consent for audio or video recording. Many state driving laws restrict the use of non-transparent objects, recording employees or customers without consent, and recording devices to an area of five to seven inches. States included in multiple groups will be listed under the regulation that takes priority.

Do Driver-Facing Dash Cams Invade Privacy?

The dispute around dash cam laws spans all types of trucks from local delivery vehicles to long-haul trucks. No matter how short the route, some drivers feel unsettled at the thought of supervisors spying on them periodically without warning. Long-haul drivers even argued that, because they often sleep and eat in their trucks, it’s where they live; and they objected to being watched inside of their homes.

That argument fell short with the California Attorney General, which concluded that the use of the cameras doesn’t violate any state laws.

Some attorneys are fielding questions about invasion of privacy, especially if the cameras are pointed into sleeper berths. They agree with the California AG that the sleeper berth is not legally a home. An attorney from Truckers for Justice said, “I get five-six potential clients every day, but for every 10 drivers who call me there may be one legitimate case.”

Full disclosure is critical, too. On both the federal and state level, there are privacy and wiretapping laws that restrict recording someone’s voice or image without their consent. In other words, organizations must let their employees know if and how they’re using rear-facing dash cams.

Benefits of Driver-Facing Cameras

A law firm specializing in transportation law wrote that using driver-facing cameras shows a company’s commitment to driver training. Also, the cameras can prove that the driver wasn’t distracted, tired, or using a smartphone.

In their opinion, driver-facing dashcams can protect drivers and organizations in an accident. (We agree!)

In some situations, truck dash cams can encourage companies to stand by their drivers. In this case, a police officer appeared to run his patrol car into a delivery truck. Based on the video evidence, the company rallied behind the truck driver.

There’s also the possibility of reducing liability:

How Employers Use Dash Cam Footage

Some drivers suspect that their employers are watching them at all times. The Internet is rife with unverifiable stories (imagine that!) about trucking companies randomly spying on drivers, even while the truck is parked.

But the cameras only transmit a short segment of data encompassing time before and after a triggering incident. Still, some drivers remain suspicious that their companies use the in-cab cameras to spy on them even while their trucks are off and they’re no longer on the road. While this is theoretically possible, it’s just not efficient to have employees pouring over hours of video footage. It would take too much time to find anything of interest if it’s not associated with a triggering event.

In addition, this is primarily a scenario for long-haul vehicles. Many of the fleets using in-cab cameras focus on local deliveries, which means more stops and more opportunities for accidents to occur. Some unions are also urging their members to negotiate policies about how employers can use the footage.

Taking Advantage of What Dash Cams Record

If your organization plans to use driver-facing cameras, it’s critical to be aware of the dash cam laws and other related legal matters. This isn’t always easy because, as you’ve seen, they can vary by jurisdiction. But getting employee buy-in, being transparent, and emphasizing the possibility to help them in an accident can help.

By engaging in an open conversation with drivers about how this technology can help exonerate them during events when they were not at fault or even reward their continuously good driving habits – you are far more likely to receive their buy-in for dash cams. This makes for safer roads and helps reward good drivers by providing context for the events. For example, in the past, if a driver is flagged for a harsh braking event it was always seen as a negative driver event (aggressive driving).

Now with cameras in the equation, you can see the context around a harsh braking event. If a driver brakes harshly, but it is because a child ran out into the street, you can discern that event was actually the result of the driver being alert and thus rewarded for his/her actions. This allows organizations to reward that driver for making the right decision and it also exonerates them should there be an altercation that requires legal intervention.

Is Dash Cam Footage Admissible in Court?

If an accident goes to civil or criminal court, who can use the footage? What’s covered by dash cam laws? Either party in the case, according to legal experts.

“In every jurisdiction across the country – including all federal and state courts – any video or audio recording captured by the cameras likely would be considered discoverable information in litigation and would have to be produced to the complaining party,” James J. Franklin wrote in an article for McNees.

It’s also possible that certain laws may require organizations to preserve recordings and reports for a certain time after a triggering event. They could be open to legal action if they don’t comply. The best way to prevent any further damage to your wallet or reputation is to equip your vehicles with a certified camera system for reliable roadside review.

Protect Your Employees and Assets

Answering the question “Are dash cams legal?” isn’t easy because of the different laws at local and regional levels. More often than not, though, the answer will be “Yes.”

Still, fleet managers should do their due diligence to cover their legal bases when considering using smart cameras in their organization’s vehicles.

Need to know more about in-cab cameras, dash cams, and other related technology? Book a demo with our team to learn how they improve safety and promote accountability!