Cops Intimidate - Body Cam .. "Where's my video?"

[Rusty Heap]

I've had the displeasure of paying the Porsche tax and getting pulled over and ticketed twice in the last year...........


Both petty charges. I rolled through a stop sign at 2-3 mph. The other was merging too soon into freeway traffic and crossing the solid white line




Both Times, 1st thing Mr Police comes SHOUTING at my window: YOU ARE BEING RECORDED ON BODY AND CAR CAMERAS VIDEO AND AUDIO............

A Puffed up Chest and simple intimidation. really sets the tone.......... I shrug and say what-ever. nothing to hide.


Get tickets, (paying the Porsche tax).


My lawyer, then asks court system for the Camera Evidence.......


"Oh sorry, we don't have any" both times.


As my Lawyers says. Cops can and will lie to you. That said, there are many many many cool cops out there too.


My Lawyer went out the next day and bought 4 dash cams, based solely on my court case.

Just cover your assssp. if not, its a simple he said she said in court.



Who else has experienced both Positive and Negative Cop Webcam evidence?

[David]

I'd love to put a camera in my car but unlike police officers (apparently), if you have a video camera and cannot provide video after an accident the opposing side can claim that the video shows you are at fault and you have have no defense to that. So you had better be sure you're not speeding, rolling stop signs, not signaling, etc when you present that video.

[Dantilla]

A couple years ago a knucklehead caused a chain reaction when he cut over in front of me into an exit lane of slowing traffic.
My car had very minor damage.
No injuries, so I quickly took pictures of the front and rear of every car, then ran up the bank behind the scene to get a good overall picture of everything.

Sure enough, the clown tried to blame everybody but himself. I sent my description, along with the pictures to multiple insurance companies.

Justice was served.

Getting a dash cam has been on my list of things to do for too long. Time to act.

[GH85Carrera]

I have had my 911 for 22 years, and driven it in 42 of the lower 48 states. I have only been pulled over once, and it was a cop that just wanted to see my car. No tickets.

[Sooner or later]

Why use an attorney for two piss ant tickets that you admitted to being guilty of?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

I've had the displeasure of paying the Porsche tax and getting pulled over and ticketed twice in the last year...........

Both petty charges. I rolled through a stop sign at 2-3 mph. The other was merging too soon into freeway traffic and crossing the solid white line

Was the "California stop" worth the trouble? How much easier is it to roll through at 2-3 mph vs a quick stop and go?

Originally Posted by David

I'd love to put a camera in my car but unlike police officers (apparently), if you have a video camera and cannot provide video after an accident the opposing side can claim that the video shows you are at fault and you have have no defense to that. So you had better be sure you're not speeding, rolling stop signs, not signaling, etc when you present that video.

Exactly. You'd better be sure that your driving is perfectly fine with no little infractions or having a dashcam will probably be worse for you than better. Recording yourself speeding or failing to stop or breaking the law seems like a bad idea. For guys like Paul in his Mustang or Glenn in his El Camino that drive nicely it's a great idea, but for most folks, I don't think that's the case.

If you wouldn't be willing to plug a GPS tracker into your car that your insurance company could use to track your speed and mileage, then you're probably also not a good candidate for a dashcam.

This is an interesting article written by a lawyer, I believe, on the legal ramifications of having a dashcam.
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a32124/the-surprising-legal-ramifications-of-having-a-dash-cam-in-your-car/

[gordner]

The only negative he highlights in that write up is eavesdropping, seems that is easily avoided by muting the mic.

As to driving style, you are in control of the recording, the only way I could see it being an issue is if you caused an accident and try to lie about it, which doesn't concern most drivers much I am sure.

If all that stuff concerns you, I hope your cars are all very old, because the reality is modern cars have enough tell tale data retained to burn you in most at fault accidents regardless of if you filmed it or not. The camera is awfully good when the other guy is at fault though, so I would guess a pretty safe bet for 99% of the public.

[Arizona_928]

I posted mine before. Unsafe lane change, and no turn signal.
Should have been a red flag when the cop asked; how many points do you have on your license...
6 points on the license, and 500 dollar fines later. Young and stupid and didn't pay for an attorney... Challenged the dash cam footage in court. Wasn't on....


Now I pay for his salary and pension with a 32$/year safe highway fee assesed to my vehicle registration...

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by David

I'd love to put a camera in my car but unlike police officers (apparently), if you have a video camera and cannot provide video after an accident the opposing side can claim that the video shows you are at fault and you have have no defense to that. So you had better be sure you're not speeding, rolling stop signs, not signaling, etc when you present that video.

crop the living hell out of the footage. Nothing new to PD's....

[Gogar]

My buddy had a one-car in the snow accident and had a discrepancy of words with the officer writing the report. Buddy said “cool well let’s check the recording and see what I actually said!”

Cop said “oh yeah my camera just broke.” Second cop said “yep my camera is broken too. Sorry.”

[stealthn]

I have one in the Cayman and one in the Panamera, just for “those” accidents...I was almost hit twice in 5 Km by people not shoulder checking. Pulled the footage and it was close both times.

When it comes to a he said she said issue, cheap insurance...