Is it legal to Use a Dashcam?

In a world where everything is connected, it makes sense that people want to know whether dashcams are legal in Pennsylvania. Over the last few years, you have probably seen plenty of videos on the news captured by dashcam videos – meteors streaking across the sky, powerful storms raging as people try to get out

In a world where everything is connected, it makes sense that people want to know whether dashcams are legal in Pennsylvania. Over the last few years, you have probably seen plenty of videos on the news captured by dashcam videos – meteors streaking across the sky, powerful storms raging as people try to get out of the path, and horrific accidents.

At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we want to talk about these devices and their usefulness. Our Pittsburgh car accident lawyers are standing by to answer questions you may have about dashcams or any other personal injury cases.

ARE DASHCAMS LEGAL IN PENNSYLVANIA?

Dashcams are legal in Pennsylvania, but there are certain restrictions that drivers need to be aware of. First, you must have the dashcam properly places on the dashboard. The law in PA says the cameras must be installed outside of the range of the airbag. This can include:

• The lower righthand corner of the windshield in an area that does not exceed seven (7) square inches.
• The lower lefthand corner of the windshield in an area that does not exceed five (5) square inches.
• The upper center portion of the windshield in an area that does not exceed five (5) square inches.

Here is the big one – the driver cannot have a dashcam with a television-type receiving unit on the back that is visible to the driver. There are plenty of dashcams on the market that have these rear-facing display units, but there are also many that do not.

Another peculiar requirement is that the devices must be able to record audio as well as video. This has raised privacy concerns for many and drivers need to be sure any passengers in their vehicles are aware they are being recorded.

WHY A DASHCAM IS USEFUL?

There are many reasons a person may want a dashcam installed in their vehicle.

• To prove fault in an accident. One of the most aggravating parts of any car accident is often proving the other driver’s fault. Having a dashcam can certainly help clear up what happened in an accident, so long as the incident is captured on the camera. You can prove the other driver acted negligently, broke a traffic law, etc.
• Capture some cool footage. Many people have their dashcams going nonstop while they are driving. By doing so, people have captured some great footage that would have otherwise never been captured. We have seen people get footage of meteors, tornados, wild animals, and more.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE INJURED?