Year after year, dashboard cameras, often referred to as a “dash cams,” are becoming more popular in American vehicles, not just police cars. Attaching a small recording device to your vehicle’s dashboard can provide clear and convincing visual video footage of what happened in the event of an accident. Regular civilians using dashboard cameras have become more prevalent around the world, not just in the U.S.A.
While dashboard camera use by the regular population is not technically illegal, it is important to know the laws in the state or county in which you are driving.
What to Know About Dash Cams
Not every state in the nation has the same restrictions on the general public using dashboard cameras. The main reason for these differences is the obstruction of view laws in those states regarding a vehicle’s windshield. Under Nevada law, the restrictions regarding obstructions to windshields are pretty clear:
Under NRS 484D.435, a person is prohibited from driving any motor vehicle that has a sign, poster, or other non-transparent object or material on the front windshield. This also applies to the vehicle’s side and rear view windows that blocks the driver’s clear view of the road. Notably, this does not apply to anything that is displayed within the six-inch square area of the lower corner of the windshield farthest away from the driver. The law also does not apply to any other material that is required to be displayed by federal or state law.
It is true that some individuals are required to have a dashboard camera in their vehicle as a result of their occupation. This includes law enforcement, who also have an obligation as of 2018 to wear body cameras.
Benefits of Dash Cams
There are many reasons why installing a dashboard camera is beneficial for the general public, especially when someone is involved in an auto accident. These benefits include:
- Providing clear and irrefutable audio and visual evidence that can be admitted in a court of law;
- Possibly reducing auto insurance premiums, when evidencing safe driving;
- Reducing the time required to settle claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company;
- Reducing the time taken to settle a claim when there is a personal injury lawsuit involved;
- Impacting driving behaviors, including making roads safer, because drivers are aware of the possibility of being recorded.
It is important to keep in mind that dashboard camera evidence is almost always admissible in a court of law. This evidence is only admissible, however, if the incident being investigated happened outside of the vehicle because privacy laws require that passengers in vehicles must be made aware that a recording device is in the vehicle. Therefore, if there is a dash cam in a vehicle that can record audio and the passengers were not informed that they were being recorded, the evidence will likely be dismissed in court.
Accidents during which a dash cam can be helpful include:
- Hit and runs;
- Negligent driving;
- Reckless driving;
- Grand theft;
- Insurance fraud;
- Property damage;
- Premises liability; and
- Assault and battery.
Contact Our Attorneys
While dash cams are legal, it is important to understand applicable law so you can use the evidence in court. The experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Matt Pfau Law Group understand the importance of gathering concrete evidence for your case. If you have been involved in any type of car accident, or have been hurt due to another driver’s actions, contact us today.
