Dash-Cam Vigilantes: Good or Bad?

"CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever" (carsoffortlangley)
12/18/2019 at 19:00 • Filed to: None

More and more stories showing up in the news about people submitting dashcam footage to police departments resulting in charges to the drivers caught on film.

How does Oppo feel about this? For one, its good that some of the more mental stuff on our roads gets investigated and the perpatraters charged.

But, at what point is every car with a dashcam or every home with a Nest/Security camera going to become a narc against drivers?

At the end of the day, they are a positive tool. I’d rather have one than not. But, if you ever are in an accident you think might be your fault or something more serious, remember to eat your SD card before leaving the car....

DISCUSSION (26)

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:06

More evidence is better than less. Having something concrete is great in court. And the thing is, yeah, people are worried about getting narc’d on (only a narc calls people narcs), but it also covers your ass if you’re the victim of something. It’s a give and take.

facw > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:10

Good. I want drunk and otherwise reckless drivers identified. Though honestly I doubt the police are going to do anything with such footage unless there is crash (and even then probably only if someone is hurt/killed).

Ultimately I expect that dash cams will be irrelevant because most roads will be recorded anyway (self-driving cars might change this, though they also provide a great source of cameras). I don’t have any problem with near-universal traffic enforcement by cameras/AI, provided speed limits are set reasonably, and fines are lowered (we don’t need big fines as a deterrent if you can catch nearly all traffic infractions). As to whether that can actually happen given current vested interests, profit motives, and of course people who just don’t want their bad driving punished, I don’t know. But I think everyone would be better off if it did.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > CB
12/18/2019 at 19:11

Oh yeah, I have relied on dashcam footage too and I am totally for some added enforcement.

It just is one of those “how far is to far” scenarios. Do I really have to worry about some self deputized cop wannabe mailing in small infractions?

Mercedes Streeter > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:15

Good, when not abused.

If someone makes a small mistake that doesn’t hurt anyone then there’s no need to be a Karen over it and go report it to police.

But for mental stuff and crashes, I see it as a very good resource. I know I always ride my motorcycles with a cam rolling.

His Stigness > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:16

As a fellow dashcam and Nest Hello owner, I am okay with this. Catching illegal acts is never a bad thing in my opinion.

wafflesnfalafel > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:18

I’m worried it would record all the stupid sh!# I do...

RallyWrench > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:18

I never narc’d on nobody.

CB > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:19

Cops don’t have to issue tickets in every scenario, either. Warnings can be issued, reminding people to drive safe, and insurance can also be warned for problematic drivers.

As well, if someone is coming in every day with new footage and tips, odds are good 90% will be ignored. Police resources are still a thing, and I bet the cops would rather be going to assaults than dealing with videos of people turning without signals.

slipperysallylikespenguins > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:26

I think dashcams are a great resource for evidence in a collision and entertainment on Youtube. But I’m hoping people only use them to tattle if they see actual serious crimes being committed .

Different people identify reckless driving very differently . The Prius driver going 5 under the limit in the left lane probably thinks everyone around them is a raging psycopath and is likely to report people for things the police couldn’t care less about.

I doubt there is any way to really enforce these videos anyway unless they can clearly see the face of the person driving.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:26

I wouldn't really want people to send in all the minor things I do, but it would have helped me today when someone tried to run me off the road.

Svend > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:27

I’m all for them. Everyone berates the police for not being at that space in time to see the idiot driving like a nutter, but here is where you can show the police, ‘hey, this happened, just letting you know, thanks’.

Here in the U.K. if it’s a minor thing you may get a letter from the local constabulary saying, ‘you were seen driving in an unsafe mann er, it has been reported to us with video evidence’, no fine or points on the licence, unless it’s more serious and a willful disregard for the law and public safety.

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:35

Good to a point. If you're submitting video to the police because some guy is riding in the carpool line by himself.... Too much.

jimz > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:41

for the most part, you have no expectation of privacy when you’re out in public.

slipperysallylikespenguins > jimz
12/18/2019 at 19:52

Edit: Nevermind.

Urambo Tauro > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 19:56

Having a dashcam in my own car for the past few years has made me keenly aware of what it captures in regards to my actions. And I do much more driving behind the wheel of a GPS-tracked company vehicle than I do in my own car anyway. As a result, I am on my best behavior more often than not. If someone were to post a video of my driving habits, it would likely say more about their following distance and braking habits than it would say about me.

bob and john > His Stigness
12/18/2019 at 20:06

but...come on, my wheelies are cool!

bob and john > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 20:13

ehhh. they certainly have their advantages .

I still dont like them.

Cash Rewards > RallyWrench
12/18/2019 at 20:18

Underappreciated F&F reference, here

facw > AestheticsInMotion
12/18/2019 at 20:33

I’d totally report that person if they set a system to request that. I don’t see any particular reason why they shouldn’t face consequences for such anti-social behavior.

I wouldn’t just send it to the police unsolicited though because I’d assume they’d just ignore it.

When I lived in Texas I did report litters to Don’t Mess With Texas: http://www.dontmesswithtexas.org/get-involved/report-a-litterer/

That’s just trying to guilt people into being better instead of fining them, but honestly I’d be happy to fine them too if there was video evidence. A dashcam made this a lot ea si er given since it wants you to report the plate and the vehicle make and model, which I’m unlikely to remember without the video.

M.T. Blake > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 20:48

It’s more reliable than testimonial evidence.

fintail > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 20:49

If one doesn’t drive like an absolute ass, they probably have nothing to fear. Nobody is going to get in trouble for 7 over. And those behaving like shit might actually face some accountability for once in their lives.

Future Heap Owner > wafflesnfalafel
12/18/2019 at 23:05

Do that shit when nobody else is around man

NKato > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 23:57

Unlike Ring, submitting dash footage is completely voluntary. I have zero issues with this.

NKato > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/18/2019 at 23:59

That’s an issue I’ve thought about. Most infractions need to be witnessed by an officer before it can be cited, such as speeding.

However, in cases where property damage occurs, or felonious conduct is captured, the footage serves as evidence.

Really, that's the litmus test: is it an infraction worth pursuing solely on dash and eyewitness accounts?

NKato > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/19/2019 at 00:06

also, I submitted dash footage of a motorcyclist speeding in the oncoming lane where double yellows were present. Caught this guy five times.

The Sheriff set up a speed trap on that road the next day and nailed him.

FSI > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/19/2019 at 00:32

As long as you don't provoke bad driving for #content, sure.