Dash Cam Laws By States – Matrack Insight
Roads and highways can be risky places to travel (each year, there are millions of car accidents), and responsible driving won’t protect you from other motorists, pointless traffic stops, or insurance fraud attempts. Having a dash cam as your second pair of eyes on the road is beneficial for various reasons.
What are the Dash Cam Laws By State?
Dash cams for fleets are vital tools for preventing unjustified fines, ensuring the well-being of your drivers, and preserving the good name of your company. However, their legality is shrouded in mystery, precisely where they should be placed. The question then becomes,
“Is it legal to own a dashcam?”
Because dash cam laws vary from state to state, we walk you through each jurisdiction and explain the rules that apply to you. Continue reading for a description of the relevant U.S. regulations and the answers to the pressing issues you have about the legitimacy of employing dashcams.
Alabama
In Alabama, placing anything on a car’s windshield is banned, making suction dash cams unlawful. Dashcams are legal if they don’t block the driver’s view.
Alaska
According to Alaska Statute 13.04.225, dash cameras are legal, as long as they don’t obscure the driver’s view. The driver’s side dash cam must be less than 5 square inches.
The two-inch-by-two-inch driver-side device is permitted. A three-inch-wide-by-three-inch-tall device would be unlawful.
Arizona
In Arizona, dash cam use is permissible only if appropriately mounted.
Arizona law limits how much motorists and vehicle owners can block windshield vision. Mounting a dash cam on the driver’s side requires positioning it in the bottom corner of the windshield and giving it no more than five square inches of real estate. Passenger-side dash cams must fit in the bottom corner of the windscreen and take up no more than seven square inches of space.
Dash cameras must be five inches square on the driver’s side and seven inches square on the passenger side.
Arkansas
Dashboard cameras are legal in Arkansas so long as they are concealed behind the rearview mirror and do not obstruct the driver’s view. If a dashcam blocks the driver’s field of vision, it is illegal to use it.
California
In 2011, California passed legislation to legalize the use of dashboard cameras. However, If the dash cam is installed in the upper center of the windshield, it may not take up more than five square inches of the area; if installed in the bottom right corner, it may not take up more than seven square inches of space.
You shouldn’t install dash cams in areas where they could get in the way of an airbag. If your dash cams have a microphone and a record button, you must obtain permission from everyone in the car before recording their voices.
Colorado
Dash cams can be legally installed in Colorado either on the dashboard or behind the rearview mirror. Mirrored and metallic dash cams are illegal in Colorado because they temporarily blind the driver.
Connecticut
The use of opaque objects on windshields is prohibited in Connecticut. The statute does not explicitly address dashboard cameras, but it does not exempt them in any way. It is essential to keep dash cams hidden for your protection.
Delaware
No one may drive a vehicle with a sign, poster, or other non-transparent material on the windshield, side wings, or side or rear glass in Delaware. The state law requires dashboard-mounted dashcams.
District of Columbia (D.C.)
Washington, D.C legislature permits dashboard cameras, but windshield mounting is forbidden. According to D.C.’s dash cam law, no one can drive with a sign, poster, or other non-transparent material on the windshield.
Drivers need passenger authorization to capture audio in the automobile. Mount a dash cam and attach a label or placard saying it records audio for safety.
Florida
Florida law bans non-transparent things that could obscure the driver’s view. No laws prohibit dash cams. State laws don’t address dash cams. Dash cams are legal if they don’t cover the view.
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Georgia
The legislature of Georgia permits dashboard cameras, and drivers may record video and audio with passengers’ approval. In Georgia, operating a vehicle covered in a sign, poster, or other opaque objects on the front windshield is illegal, which would include a dash cam if mounted on the windshield instead of the dashboard.
Hawaii
Dash cameras installed in a vehicle’s top or bottom windscreen corners are permitted by Hawaii law to have a square dimension of between 5 and 7 inches. Both the windshield and the dashboard are viable mounting locations for dash cams.
Idaho
Blocking the driver’s line of sight is illegal under the dashcam legislation in Idaho. As a result, they are required to be mounted on the dashboard.
Illinois
Illinois Vehicle laws don’t address dash cams or recorders. Car drivers can mount a dashboard camera directly to the windshield until it doesn’t block their view. Install a 5-inch-square dash cam on the driver’s side.
Indiana
Indiana enables dashboard and windshield dash cams if installed correctly. Indiana requires a 4-inch square dash cam in the bottom passenger-side corner.
Iowa
Iowa Law doesn’t mention dash cams. Dash cams are permitted if the driver can see well. It’s against the law to have a windshield, wings, or windows that block your view.
Kansas
Kansas allows dashcams. Dash cams can be placed on the dashboard or windshield as long as they don’t “significantly hinder” the driver’s eyesight.
Kentucky
Kentucky has no dash cam placement laws. Dash cams are allowed if they don’t block the driver’s view.
Louisiana
Dash cams can be used legally in Louisiana. However, it is against the law to operate a vehicle without having a “clear vision” via the windshield. As a result, you shouldn’t put dash cams on the windshields of your drivers. It’s a safe bet to install them on your drivers’ dashboards or just behind their mirrors.
Maine
Dash cams are legal in the state of Maine, provided they do not get in the way of the driver’s view. The statute in Maine exempts “required or supplied vehicle equipment,” which may include dashboard cameras in some circumstances.
Maryland
Maryland has camera placement requirements. Dash cams can be mounted above the AS-1 line or 5 inches below the windscreen. Dash cams can be mounted in a 7-inch square in the windshield’s bottom corner.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts drivers cannot mount dashcams on windshields because they’re opaque. Mount it on the dashboard. If the side window’s “total visible light reflectance is less than 35%,” drivers can use a side dash cam. Dash cams are easiest to place on the dashboard.
Michigan
Dashboard cameras are legal in Michigan, but not on the windshield. The exemptions include vehicles with a gross weight above 10,000 pounds, truck tractors, buses, and hazardous waste trucks.
Minnesota
Minnesota drivers must put dashboard cameras “behind, above, or below the rearview mirror.” Dash cams are legal because they monitor driver input and safety.
Mississippi
In Mississippi, it is illegal to obstruct a driver’s view. However, the use of dashcams is not against the law. The use of dash cams helps to prevent accidents.
Missouri
Missouri is one of the few states that does not address driver visibility. Dash cams are lawful to install, so drivers can put them wherever they want. Mount the camera behind the rearview mirror or windshield to avoid obscuring visibility.
Montana
Montana legislation demands clear windshields. Transparent or not, items cannot “obstruct, impede, or degrade the driver’s clear view.” Montana drivers should install dash cams on dashboards, not windshields.
Nebraska
Nebraska allows dashboard cameras, but not on the windshield. Before recording audio, drivers must get permission from other cab passengers.
Nevada
Nevada drivers can install dash cams more compact than 6 inches square in the windshield’s lower corner. Dash cams can only be installed on windshields. No restrictions exist for installing a dash cam.
New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, front windshield dash cams are illegal. If the car has a back camera, the driver can add one to monitor rear-side activities. Drivers can install dash cams.
New Jersey
New Jersey prohibits installing non-transparent objects on the windshield, driver’s side window, or passenger’s side glass. Install a dash cam near the passenger-side windshield.
New Mexico
Although dashcams are permitted in New Mexico, careful placement is still recommended. The windshield must be clear, so it’s against the law to attach anything opaque to a car’s front, sides, or back. The dashboards of your automobiles are prime locations for dash cam installation.
New York
New York bill A5132 “provides for a 5% automobile insurance premium reduction for noncommercial passenger motor vehicles equipped with an operating dashboard camera.” New York legalizes dash cams since they operate as a non-biased passenger and help resolve traffic incidents. Dash cams should go on the dashboard, not the windshield.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s automobile rules don’t address dashboard cams or windshield blockage. Drivers should use prudence while placing a dash cam. Mounting cameras on the dashboard is safe because they won’t obstruct your view.
North Dakota
The use of windshield dash cams is prohibited in North Dakota. It is required that all windows have stickers, dash cams, and posters removed from them. The dashboard is ideal for mounting a dash cam in North Dakota.
Ohio
Ohio has a statute that bans the use of windshield dash cams. Every dash cam needs to be installed in the vehicle. Recording video and audio inside the cab is legal so long as the camera does not obstruct the driver’s view of the windshield.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma outlaws dashboard cams. If the dash cam does not obstruct the driver’s view via the windshield, it can be positioned on the dashboard.
Oregon
Oregon prohibits “any substance that hinders or affects vehicle visibility.” Dash cams can’t be mounted on windshields or other automobile windows. Dash cams can record audio and video for drivers.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law prohibits putting dash cams on car glass, including the windshield. Dash cams can be mounted on the dashboard without obstructing the driver’s view.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island legalizes dash cams but prohibits windshield mounting. Drivers can mount dash cams facing the road. Dash cams are legal if they don’t block the driver’s view.
South Carolina
South Carolina allows dashboard-mounted dash cams but not on the windshield or windows. Any window must be visible to the driver.
South Dakota
The use of materials that are not clear is prohibited on car windshields, side wings, side windows, and rear windows in the state of South Dakota. Dash cams can be mounted on car dashboards. It is possible to record video and audio while driving, but you will need permission or advance notification.
Tennessee
Visibility for drivers must not be obstructed under the legislation in Tennessee. The windshield is not a suitable mounting location for dash cams, GPS systems, or other similar devices. Drivers are permitted to install dash cams with no limitations or restrictions.
Texas
In Texas, the vehicle owner commits an offense if an object or material on the windshield, side or rear glass obstructs or reduces the operator’s clear view. Dash cams are permissible in Texas, but not on the windshield.
Utah
In Utah, drivers can put dash cams on the windshield if they don’t extend more than four inches down or out. Drivers can also install rear-view cameras without penalty.
Vermont
Vermont law allows dash cams in the bottom right windscreen if they are less than 4 inches in height and 12 inches long. The device can be two inches high and two-and-a-half inches long if mounted in the upper left windshield corner.
Virginia
Virginia law prevents drivers from placing dash cams on windshields but allows them on dashboards. The equipment is authorized as long as the motorist can see the road.
Washington
Washington drivers can capture audio and video with dash cams whether driving or parked. The camera on the windshield would block the driver’s view of the road.
West Virginia
West Virginia drivers can’t place non-transparent materials on the windshield. No rules prohibit placing a dash cam on other automobile windows. Install a dash cam out of the driver’s sight for safety.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin allows dashcams. Drivers can only place dash cams behind the rearview mirror.
The camera can’t be mounted where the windshield wipers are clean. Wisconsin doesn’t allow anything between the driver and windshield, making dash cam placement unclear. Again, dashboard mounting seems to be the easiest option.
Wyoming
The dashboard camera mount is legal in Wyoming, but not the windshield mount. The use of dash cams is permitted so long as they do not obstruct the driver’s view.
Summary
If spoken technically, dashboard cameras are a type of surveillance, so depending on where you reside, you can violate local laws against electronic surveillance. There might be legislation governing data protection in your region.
In the U.S., dashcams are not prohibited by any federal laws. However, due to federal prohibitions against covert audio recordings, using a dashcam to secretly record a conversation in your car without the consent of all parties may be illegal.
The essential term here is knowledge, so if you inform your passengers that they are being videotaped when they get into your car, you should generally be okay. This issue will be irrelevant if you get a dashboard camera that doesn’t record audio or turn off the audio recording feature.
Why is the Matrack DashCam the Best Choice for Your Fleet?
One of the best tools for keeping your fleet safe and effective is the Matrack Dashcam. This dash cam supports the CAN bus, 4G LTE, and Wi-Fi networks. It features two front-facing cameras to see what happens outside and inside the vehicle. The solution includes both driver- and lane-facing cameras, providing a comprehensive remote view of the truck. The audio alerts warn the driver and check for cell phone use and smoking. You can receive notifications if a car changes lanes without using its indicator and if an accident is imminent.
The AI-enabled sensor recognizes the possible risk and promptly notifies the driver through an auditory alert so that they may concentrate on practicing safe driving habits. It tags video footage of an occurrence with tags based on severity and uploads it to the cloud platform.
The videos support risk assessment and driving behavior analysis. Drivers can practice safe driving and proactively avert accidents using various warning systems, including lane departure and forward collision alerts.
In addition, you may use geofencing, real-time location updates, vehicle health tracking, preventive maintenance reminders, and driver driving behavior, among other features.
The following advantages can be attained by integrating the Matrack dash cam with an existing fleet management system.