Car blackbox for 4.8 X5

[bimmerpwr]

So I followed one of "hardware radar detector" instruction to hardware a blackbox in my X5. The installation came out very clean and I was impressed with the quality of video/audio recordings that this gizmo made. One negative is it keeps thinking that there is an "event" whenever my car goes over a bump or something. No matter, it continueously records either way. For anyone who's unfamiliar with car blackbox, it is basically a very small video/audio record devise that could help prove your case if you are in an accident.

Car Black Box Store - AMON SIV M7 GPS.

[Philrobj]

Very cool. I like the idea of having video evidence in the event of a crash. Of course if it is your fault, it might be a bad thing, but I'll take that chance.

Keep us posted on how it works. I know SD cards have a limited lifespan in terms of writes/rewrites, so constantly recording over and over on the same one may eventually require that the card be replaced periodically, but the 4 Gb are cheap enough where that is not a problem financially. You may want to replace it periodically or check it every so often to make sure you have good recordings before relying on it and finding out it didn't record though!

[ard]

Interesting. Footage and recordings if you ever get a traffic ticket you don't deserve.... unless recording is prohibited by your state.

[bimmerpwr]

From what I found, video recording in public place is legal. Recently ca passed a law that allows drivers to use such device. Other places do not seem to have any law that prevents it. I think recording audio can be a touch subject so I disabled it. So many crazy drvers on the road and I think such device should be recommanded by law imo.

[ard]

Originally Posted by bimmerpwr

From what I found, video recording in public place is legal. .

Video: Motorcyclist arrested for recording cop brandishing gun with helmet cam [*UPDATED] — Autoblog

Say what you want about the riders' driving & antics on the road....... but the police raided his home the next day for the video! Arrested him, tossed him in jail for felony wiretap violations as I recall.

The issue is that it may be legal, but police are using threats and arrests to suppress such use with LEOs.

[Philrobj]

Maryland is an "all party" consent state meaning that all parties to a conversation have to agree to be recorded (audio). Anything less is a felony.

Video recording is legal in a public place.

Agree with the police officer's actions EXCEPT, he should have more quickly identified himself and it should never have gotten to that point in the first place as the uniformed officer in the marked cruiser should have been the one to make the traffic stop.

He pulled his weapon because he felt threatened (arguably but that is the individual officer's call, but he should be asked to articulate why he felt threatened). He never pointed the weapon at the motorcyclist and quickly re-holstered.

Full disclosure...Maryland resident, non-Maryland LEO.

[bimmerpwr]

I saw that. When he *audibly* recorded that event he might have broken wire tapping law which requires consent. It will be interesting to see the outcome. The purpose of such device should be for recording accident. When stopped by police, better to turn it off just in case.

[Philrobj]

...the assumption is the recording has audio with it so you may get a visit from the police after the fact anyway, and still have your equipment seized until they realize there is no audio on it.

Tough call really...do they make one without a mic? I would love to have one too.

If stopped I would make no mention of ANY kind of recording device in the vehicle (and of course have the audio off). If the stop became contentious I would only present the video recording after the fact and after consulting with an attorney.

Not being a Maryland LEO, I wonder if their crusiers have cameras and if so, how do they get away with recording audio, if they in fact do? They have to play by the same rules also.

[bimmerpwr]

About that motorcyclist, after he got traffic ticket, he posted the video on youtube. After that police came to his house. Why he posted on youtube is beyond me. But that seems like asking for trouble. For that matter posting someone else's video on internet w/o consent seems wrong even if it is legal. Not sure if there is a model without misc. Even if there were one, I doubt police would take ur word for it.

[ard]

I was under the impression that audio recording in a PUBLIC place is protected in all states. No "two party" or "one party" issues. You have no 'reasonable expectation of privacy' on a public street, audio or video.

I am not familiar with the legal concept of "looking for trouble"

They have to play by the same rules also.

Supposed to, but they do not.