Dashcams - anyone has some info

[MoneyJohn]

Hello folks,

Was just looking into installing a dashcam (No, I am not Russian), mainly to cover my base, should anything happen.

I was wondering if anybody has suggestions for a reasonably priced dashcam.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Corvette Owner]

Check your local laws first. There are laws about recording people without their permission. In some states it is even illegal to record police doing their job (hard to believe).

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
Check your local laws first. There are laws about recording people without their permission. In some states it is even illegal to record police doing their job (hard to believe).


When pressed, the LEOs frequently cannot cite the statute that requires the person to stop recording, and the person can be "civilly disobedient" and record the thing anyway.

A PLETHORA of Youtube videos about this, some good some sort of over-the-top "This is what they do in Nazi Germany" (checkpoints etc.)

*** Unfortunately, almost every video has profanity in the comments. So, I won't use the "video" field. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efchS6a9Zhw

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Here is one from Massachusetts. He should have left the camera on, and made a big deal of it.

They only want the camera off if they have something to hide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyQV43Jsi1E

 

[JHZR2]

Um, suffolk county is on Long Island, I know that Rite aid on the corner well. Its off 46 (William Floyd Parkway).

This guy appears to be looking for trouble, he has multiple videos running in with the police.

 

[dons459]

I bought a GS8000 from China for 110.00 but I wouldn't recommend it as sometimes if the car is very hot I have had it shutdown. Also the small battery isn't the greatest, I'M looking to find a better one

You can turn the mic on or off. I have mine come on and off with the ignition.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Good comment: "Hey, I look at it this way, they are always filming with their dash cam for their safety and liability in court. So I'm going to do the same when they stop me. You shouldn't have turned off the cam."

The Youtube videos are great, just some strong language comments.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2


This guy appears to be looking for trouble, he has multiple videos running in with the police.


That they do.. But I believe THEY are extreme, to guide "us" if we want to do the same.. Something about rights, or something.

Some of us don't have a glowing image of the police officer bending over to give the young boy an ice cream cone. Personal experience.

 

[simple_gifts]

Filming is a public place is legal IIRC regardless of whether people are informed or not.

WRT police recording, SCOTUS ruled (or failed to consider actually) the unconstitutional ruling of a prohibition on police recording.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/S...Amidst_Reports/

This does not mean your recording will be problem free, just that you will spend thousands of hours and dollars defending your right, as there is precedence.

Quote:

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a federal appeals court decision finding it unconstitutional to enforce an Illinois state law that makes it a felony to videotape police officers working in public if a microphone is turned on.

The law had been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, and a divided panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed earlier this year that it “restricts far more speech than necessary to protect legitimate privacy interests" and, "as applied to the facts alleged here, it likely violates the First Amendment’s free speech and free-press guarantees,”

 

[onemig]

I'm also looking to install a dash cam and based on my research, it found BlackVue to be recommended most of the time that blends price, performance and is small enough so that it is not too obvious from the outside.

A lot of people also use GoPro. It is rather big though. BlackVue is a little bit more stealthy.

 

[zloveraz]

Originally Posted By: MoneyJohn
Hello folks,

Was just looking into installing a dashcam (No, I am not Russian), mainly to cover my base, should anything happen.

I was wondering if anybody has suggestions for a reasonably priced dashcam.

Thanks in advance.


DVR 027 is one of the best for the price.

http://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-mid-priced-dash-cam-you-should-buy-475625317

http://dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/

Or

http://www.amazon.com/DashBoard-Camera-V...eywords=DVR+027

Just like most items in this world if you spend a little more you'll get a better product.

 

[zloveraz]

Originally Posted By: onemig
I'm also looking to install a dash cam and based on my research, it found BlackVue to be recommended most of the time that blends price, performance and is small enough so that it is not too obvious from the outside.

A lot of people also use GoPro. It is rather big though. BlackVue is a little bit more stealthy.


GoPro is horrible for this as you want cyclic recording with 2 min, 5 min, 15 min, or continuous overwrite of the video.

 

[onemig]

^^^^^^

 

[zloveraz]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Filming is a public place is legal IIRC regardless of whether people are informed or not.

WRT police recording, SCOTUS ruled (or failed to consider actually) the unconstitutional ruling of a prohibition on police recording.

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/S...Amidst_Reports/

This does not mean your recording will be problem free, just that you will spend thousands of hours and dollars defending your right, as there is precedence.

Quote:

The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review a federal appeals court decision finding it unconstitutional to enforce an Illinois state law that makes it a felony to videotape police officers working in public if a microphone is turned on.

The law had been challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union, and a divided panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed earlier this year that it “restricts far more speech than necessary to protect legitimate privacy interests" and, "as applied to the facts alleged here, it likely violates the First Amendment’s free speech and free-press guarantees,”







He's asking about a dash cam that you mount in your car, not a handheld video recorder to go trancing around with recording COPS like your the paparazzi. Recording normal public city traffic isn't a problem.

 

[zloveraz]

Originally Posted By: onemig
I'm also looking to install a dash cam and based on my research, it found BlackVue to be recommended most of the time that blends price, performance and is small enough so that it is not too obvious from the outside.

A lot of people also use GoPro. It is rather big though. BlackVue is a little bit more stealthy.


I agree the BlackVue is really nice but the price is a bit steep, I think if I was a professional driver I would have a BlackVue otherwise the less expensive units are impressive for the price.

 

[punisher]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0053DDNW6

Had it for ~ 6 months. Works as advertised.....but:

I don't think the 720p is 720p.
The supplied battery is China clone garbage.
IR LEDs....meh
Owner's manual, don't bother.
Charger=fragile.

That's the bad. Bought a couple of OEM batteries to replace the supplied one, happiness. I think voltage regulation to recharge battery is off enough to cause damage if left on charger for more than ~ 4 hours. If you set display screen to turn off after 1 minute, batt can go for slightly more than 3 hours. Have a 32gig card in it, no problems. Records 1,3,5, minute videos, auto overwrites oldest when full. So far has done fine in S TX heat, hasn't melted yet. Very good in low light.

For $20, what the heck. I wish there was an upgraded model with actual 720p so plates would be easier to read.

EDIT: Good mount. Not great,good.

 

[Challenger71]

you can also download an app for your android phone as well that performs the same function. Autogard is the name.

 

[DaHen]

I've been using the HDVR-150 Rearview Mirror Car Recorder for three months now and like it. This one clips over your rearview mirror. Comes with the power-point, (aka cigarette lighter) plug, but I ran a wire up from the fuse block, over and through the head liner to the mirror. Took me awhile to figure out the menu settings. Works great during the daytime, even on cloudy days. But leaves allot to be desired for nighttime driving.
(No, I'm not Russian either, lol.)

 

[whip]

Originally Posted By: Corvette Owner
Check your local laws first. There are laws about recording people without their permission. In some states it is even illegal to record police doing their job (hard to believe).

If you are in a public place, you are allowed to record. ask the paparazzi if you don't believe me.

 

[meep]

can't stand the thought of one of these cluttering my windshield.

but...

maybe hidden grill-mount, with an extra clear plastic lens guard? If it's auto-on/off, who cares? It's only there as a "black box" in case you need it, right?