Can I use car dash footage in a court as a form of evidence? With its high population, India has hundreds of fatalities on the road each year. Also, there is the risk of car theft. Hence, drivers use the dash cam as a car CCTV camera.
With the surge in demand for car dash cameras, Indian drivers can’t help but wonder about their legality. You are well within the legal regulations if you adhere to the privacy and traffic laws. Read on to learn more about the laws and tips for legally using dash cams.
The Legality of Using Car Dash Cameras in India
In India, car dash cameras are now prevalent among car owners. They provide evidence in a road accident and prevent rampant auto theft and rampant vandalism. However, use of the dash cameras is subject to specific legal regulations.
- Using car dash cameras is legal, provided they don’t violate any privacy laws. The Information Technology Rules 2011 require that any sensitive private information captured by a dash camera be kept confidential.
- The use of car dash cameras must comply with traffic laws. The Motor Vehicles Act 1988 forbids any car device that interferes with a driver’s vision or distracts them from driving. It means that a car owner should install the dash cam properly so as not to obstruct the driver.
Therefore, you can use car dash footage in legal proceedings if it complies to set traffic and privacy laws. Failure to comply will lead to fines, legal action or confiscation of the camera.
How to Use Car Dash Cameras Legally in India?
If you adhere to the privacy and traffic rules, using the dash cam for cars in India is legal. Here are a few tips:-
1. Inform Passengers
Before setting off on a journey, notify the passengers of the dash cam and that it will record their images. This is crucial as it helps you comply with privacy laws to obtain the acquired footage legally.
2. Use the Car Dash Cam Responsibly
Never use car dash cameras to record illegal activity for commercial gain; instead, use them for their intended function. This includes recording footage of traffic violations, accidents, or criminal activities such as vandalism or theft.
3. Install the Car Dash Cam Correctly
You need to ensure that you don’t violate any traffic laws in India. Install the camera in a way that doesn’t violate the driver’s view or cause obstruction while driving.
4. Protect Sensitive Information
Any sensitive footage captured by a dashcam should remain confidential and never used for any unauthorized purposes.
5. Use High-Quality Dash Cam
For the footage to be legally admissible in court, ensure that its of high quality. Therefore, when purchasing a dash cam, you must ensure it records clear images. Look for one with a high-resolution camera, wide angle lens and ensure that it has night vision too.
6. Avoid Editing Footage
Tampering with footage often happens which leads to the footage being inadmissible in court. You should only share original unedited footage with relevant authorities.
7. Know When to Stop Recording
It’s always crucial to respect the privacy of others. In certain situations, it’s illegal to continue recording, such as in a hospital premises or secure facility, without permission.
8. Be careful When Using Audio Recording
Like many countries, audio recording is subject to stricter privacy laws in India. It’s illegal to record any conversations without consent from all persons involved. Therefore, you must alert all passengers of the dash cam audio recording and turn it off if they do not consent.
9. Regularly Check on Your Dash Cam
Ensure the dash cam is always working correctly, and footage is stored by regularly checking your dash cam. It would be unfortunate that you encounter an accident or a criminal act, but your camera isn’t functioning correctly.
A car dash camera helps prevent auto theft and provides valuable evidence in case of an accident. Ensure that you follow legal regulations by adhering to traffic and privacy laws. Using a high-quality dash cam like the CarCam 2 from Kent ensures that you use your dash cam legally. Please don’t wait until it’s too late; get your’s today and drive confidently.
