Dash cam questions

1) Don't do anything that would make it your fault...
3) They usually record in a loop... Recording over the oldest section.

 

They will get the footage the same way they end up getting your phone records to see if you were talking/texting or whatever.

 

I have 2 memory card 1 32gb good for 8hr, 1 4gb good for 30min if something would happen I can just change ffrom the 8hr card to the 30min card because they loop by the time a cop would see it and ask for it it will have looped

 

You can go here and read about dash cams. http://dashcamtalk.com/

I just ordered a DVR 207 and have used it for a few days. Seems to work just fine.

http://www.spytecinc.com/car-camera-systems/hd-car-camera-with-night-vision.html#.Ugz5atK2MoM

You need to get a 32GB class 10 SD card with it for around $30. What is nice about this one is if you power it from a switched source it will turn on and off with the ignition. It also has motion sensor option to stop recording when you are not moving. It can record at 1080p but it seems to work better at 720p and that is enough for quality dash cam recordings. It will record at different segment lengths, ie: 3,5,10 minutes or just one segment if you choose.

Also beware this unit has a lot of cheap knock offs out there. Make sure it has the video format H:264

 

Good idea!

 

If you have a dash cam and are at fault and the can will show it... take it down quickly, remove the card, stick that can somewhere out of sight in the sleeper and do not mention it.

I keep a digital camera with me and can stick the memory card in there and do a quick erase and then use it to take pictures of the accident scene.

 

1. Theoretically yes, because this falls under the same concept as things you say being used against you in court, but with dash cams being fairly new in trucking, I think it's still a grey area. I have one myself, and I drive as best I can, so that I never run into this situation. But my guess is that if you cause an accident and the cops see the camera in your truck, that's evidence, and could be confiscated.

2. The ones at the truck stops are the same ones that you can find on Amazon for about $25 - $45, but they aren't high def really. I'll post a link at the bottom of the message here of a video mine caught back last year in Missouri of an accident, this is the $30 one on Amazon. The one I use now was $140 on Amazon, but it has dual lenses and records in high definition and can catch street signs and license plates.

3. Yes, you use an SD card in most of them. Be aware that almost all of them can only use a max size of 32 GB, so don't bother wasting money on anything larger unless you go with a very high end camera.

Ok, now the links. This first set is a link to the actual camera I was using on Amazon, and then the YouTube video of the accident it caught:

http://www.amazon.com/2-5-inch-Vehi...F8&qid=1376581980&sr=8-1&keywords=Dash+camera

http://youtu.be/lvgQnL1V5OI


Now, here's a link to the one I'm using now, that records in actual high definition. I originally paid $140 for it, but it looks like the price has dropped quite a bit:

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-reco...8&qid=1376582172&sr=8-40&keywords=Dash+camera

And finally, if you want to go all out and get the top of the line, the VicoVation cameras are generally regarded to be the best out there. They are built in Taiwan, not China, and use very high quality construction, but are quite expensive. There is only one dealer in the US, and they don't have the prices listed on their site, but I know the newest model TF2+ Premium usually runs $299. Here's a link to the company's main page with all the specs and such:

http://www.vicovation.com/default.asp?lang=en


I plan on upgrading to this one later on when I have the extra cash. If I can't get ahold of the US dealer for whatever reason, you can order them from Taiwan but they take 30+ days to get here usually.

 

Yes, the attorneys for a plaintiff in an accident you are deemed to have caused can subpoena your dashcam videos- if they know about them. Not only that, they can subpoena whatever recordings you have. If you were driving aggressively before the accident, they can use videos of that against you as well.

That being said, they are very useful in cases you are accused of something that didn't happen, or you didn't cause. One of our drivers used his dashcam videos to show a local cop that a traffic light was green when he entered an intersection- the cop was getting ready to write him a ticket for busting a red.

 

a good thing to have is one that will AUTO-RECORD if your truck is hit.....

lets say your parked, you go inside and eat/shower and your dash cam turns off with the truck. you come out and your hood is on the ground....!!! (we have all seen the poor guy walk up to his truck that has been hit)...... if you have a small card (30min) it may have looped before you get back, if it auto turns off with the truck and doesn't auto-record you will also have nothing, if it does auto-record it will start recording WHEN you are hit, (better than nothing) I have a 32gb card good for 8hr's before it loops so I just leave it running all the time. I can be out of the truck for a long time and know anything that happens in front of my truck it will see.... like the poor driver parked next to me @ the pilot in savannah when I was asleep and he was out of his truck someone backed into his truck (hit & run) the dash cam showed the truck # trailer # trailer plate# and company name with date and time.... his company was so happy I had the vid to show the cop...