Should I Get a Dashcam?

A dashboard camera, or dashcam, is a popular type of tech among motorists in the US. Dashcams can record the interior and/or exterior of the vehicle while a motorist drives, keeping a record of everything that happens on the road. If the driver gets in a car accident, for example, a dashcam can record the accident for use as evidence later. If you are considering purchasing a dashcam for your car, learn some potential benefits and drawbacks as well as the rules you must follow to have a dashcam in Texas.

Pros and Cons of Having a Dashcam

It is your prerogative whether or not to install a dashcam in your vehicle in Texas. They are legal in Texas. With the prices of quality dashboard cameras steadily dropping, more drivers are considering installing these devices to keep track of what happens while driving. In a tort-based insurance state such as Texas, a dashcam can be especially useful during auto accident claims. It may enable you to prove someone else’s fault and liability for your car accident.

• Pro: You may be able to catch an accident on camera. One of the main reasons people invest in dashcams is to catch collisions on film. If your dashcam does record an accident, including a collision you are in, the footage could help victims prove fault and obtain compensation.
• Con: The police could subpoena your dashcam footage. If you cause a car accident and catch your infraction on your dashcam, the police could subpoena the footage – meaning you must surrender it or be held in contempt of court – to use against you. Deleting the footage could be illegal destruction of evidence.
• Pro: You can protect your rights as a driver. Having a dashcam gives you a strong, unbiased witness for a car accident claim. For example, the footage collected from an accident could prove to an insurance company that you did not cause an accident, protecting your rights to benefits.
• Con: It takes a money investment. Dashboard cameras are not free. They run from about $30 at the lowest to several hundred dollars for high-tech versions. Purchasing the camera, related equipment and a mount could cost you $100 or more depending on the quality you want.

Some people purchase dashcams as a safer alternative to filming scenic drives with their cellphones while driving. Others install them as a safeguard in case of car accidents. Still others purchase interior-facing dashcams in case something happens inside, such as an assault by a rideshare passenger. If you think you would benefit from a dashcam, make sure you follow the state’s laws in installing one.

Texas’s Dashcam Laws

While dashcams are legal in Texas, drivers must make sure the cameras do not obscure their vision. Texas has laws protecting a driver’s ability to see the road, such as limits on the opacity of windshield tint. One of these laws (Texas Transportation Code 545.417) prohibits the obstruction of a vehicle operator’s view or driving mechanism. If you install a dashcam, do so on a part of your dashboard that will not obstruct your vision as a driver. While the law is not specific, you can avoid an infraction by purchasing a small dashcam and affixing it on your dashboard in a place that does not interfere with your ability to see the road or operate your vehicle.

Furthermore, you may run into legal issues if you purchase a dashcam with voice recording capabilities. Texas has a wiretapping law that prohibits the recording of any oral communication unless at least one party involved in the conversation consents. Make sure you obtain permission to record the conversations of people in your vehicle if you have a dashcam that records sound. You can avoid this potential problem by buying a dashcam that does not have a voice recorder or disabling this feature.