Anyone from California can advise me on current law?

xgeek

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Hi,

Am flying to LA tomorrow and I want to take my dash cam to record my travels. I understand that I have to display something in my window to advise I have a dash cam?

If so, can anyone help me with a template so I can print it out before I fly?. Also what are the restrictions on mounting on the windscreen?

Many thanks in advance
 
from memory 5" square top center of the window, 7" square bottom left or right, even in these positions can't block your field of vision (behind the mirror is the logical spot if it suits)

warning is just to state that conversations may be recorded, not sure there's an official take on size and placement but would need to be large enough to be read from a seated position I'd expect

most of all remember, they drive on the wrong side of the road!
 
a google dashcam legality in california search says its legal no mention of displaying a notice that I can find ......mount the camera so that it does not obscure your view though.....thats the advice I have found to date.....unless someone knows different .......regards Ipol
 
@ jokiin you must have hit the post reply button a split second before I did .....and yep we drive on the wrong side of the road here as well :eek:
 
I believe this is the applicable section in the California Vehicle Code: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

(13) (A) A video event recorder with the capability of monitoring driver performance to improve driver safety, which may be mounted in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag deployment zone, or in a five-inch square mounted to the center uppermost portion of the interior of the windshield. As used in this section, “video event recorder” means a video recorder that continuously records in a digital loop, recording audio, video, and G-force levels, but saves video only when triggered by an unusual motion or crash or when operated by the driver to monitor driver performance.

(B) A vehicle equipped with a video event recorder shall have a notice posted in a visible location which states that a passenger’s conversation may be recorded.

(C) Video event recorders shall store no more than 30 seconds before and after a triggering event.

(D) The registered owner or lessee of the vehicle may disable the device.

(E) The data recorded to the device is the property of the registered owner or lessee of the vehicle.

(F) When a person is driving for hire as an employee in a vehicle with a video event recorder, the person’s employer shall provide unedited copies of the recordings upon the request of the employee or the employee’s representative. These copies shall be provided free of charge to the employee and within five days of the request.

(14) (A) A video event recorder in a commercial motor vehicle with the capability of monitoring driver performance to improve driver safety, which may be mounted no more than two inches below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers, and outside the driver’s sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals. Subparagraphs (B) to (F), inclusive, of paragraph (13) apply to the exemption provided by this paragraph.

(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), subparagraph (A) shall become inoperative on the following dates, whichever date is later:

(i) The date that the Department of the California Highway Patrol determines is the expiration date of the exemption from the requirements of paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 393.60 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as renewed in the notice of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on pages 21791 and 21792 of Volume 76 of the Federal Register (April 18, 2011).

(ii) The date that the Department of the California Highway Patrol determines is the expiration date for a subsequent renewal of an exemption specified in clause (i).

(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (B), subparagraph (A) shall become operative on the date that the Department of the California Highway Patrol determines is the effective date of regulations revising paragraph (1) of subdivision (e) of Section 393.60 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations to allow the placement of a video event recorder at the top of the windshield on a commercial motor vehicle.

So in conclusion it appears you can only mount the dashcam in a certain place on the windshield itself and you do have to post a visible notice that passenger's conversation may be recorded.

Possible grey area is section (13)(C) and what is a "triggering event"? Does this mean if you turn off g-shock and motion detection you can record as much as you want?
 
Perfect. Thank you all for the help.
 
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