Externally mounted camera - permitted?

Veloce

Just curious about having go-pros / action cameras mounted to your car on public roads. Is this an issue with the Gardai? Also can Gardai request you to show them any footage that may be on the camera and if so, do you have to provide this?

Chris_Heilong

I would imagine its no different from having a dash cam, it does no protrude much more than the car mirrors.

Spook_ie

There's a possibility you would fall foul of construction and use regulations if faced with an ott Gard, various regulations forbid projections that can injure people in collisions

biko

Not sure about the legalities about it but it'd be a very by-the-book garda to go after you for something like that. I doubt it'd even go to court*.

*pure guess of course

corkgsxr

Can be taken as evidence if they suspect you of up to no good.

I'd be very slow to

CiniO

corkgsxr wrote: »

Can be taken as evidence if they suspect you of up to no good.

I'd be very slow to

Can it?
That would mean that dash cam can be taken as evidence too.

Gumbo

CiniO wrote: »

Can it?
That would mean that dash cam can be taken as evidence too.

Yes, this is true. That's why you never mention the dash cam at the scene, until you get home, copy the file and then mention it.

It's the same if you are recording footage of a crime on your phone, the guard can take your phone as evidence. You'll get it back, eventually.

CiniO

kceire wrote: »

Yes, this is true. That's why you never mention the dash cam at the scene, until you get home, copy the file and then mention it.

It's the same if you are recording footage of a crime on your phone, the guard can take your phone as evidence. You'll get it back, eventually.

Are you sure though they can take your camera off you as evidence in any case? Or is it just in case of serious crime?

F.e you run a red light, no one witness it, can a gard stop you 10km further and ask to see your dashcam recording to check if you by any chance didn't commit any offence? Are you obliged to give it to him in such case?

Or maybe only in case if you are suspected of knocking down pedestrian and running away, then when they catch you, they can have a look at your camera.

Second option makes sense to me. First one doesn'.t

Odyssey 2005

Don't think it would be an issue,don't Aircoach coaches have them on the exterior and also the go safe money making vans also. Although I think the later is for security after some concerned citizen torched one one day.

ironclaw

The key here is context, like all media. If you are somewhere where you shouldn't be or its not reasonable to expect someone to be filming, you should ask e.g. Private property. It usually takes 5s to ask those in charge or a quick email / phone call the day before. Wandering around Baldonnel with a GoPro mounted to your car or around banks / the mint might not be the smartest idea.

But public roads and not causing a nuisance or offence, not a problem. I'm not sure of the exact law but the general jist is 'piracy in a public place cannot be expected' That said, you shouldn't go sticking a camera in someone's face and reasonably comply with their request if they ask not to be in the shot (Common courtesy really)

Only thing I would say is be careful if you externally mount a camera, especially in traffic, they can be taken off pretty quick by someone with a keen eye and gone. Its happened before to us on a job but they only got the empty casing.

Veloce

Good advice above.

Just a typical set up I was toying with:



I'm not doing it to record anything illegal. I just don't want to draw any significant attention to myself as the car itself is enough to do so.

Veloce

Veloce wrote: »

I just don't want to draw any significant attention to myself

Use a normal everyday dash cam then, no?

YbFocus

Veloce wrote: »

I'm not doing it to record anything illegal. I just don't want to draw any significant attention to myself as the car itself is enough to do so.

But would that not sick out more than a standard dashcam?
Also it would record less imo as it is unable to capture the left hand side at all.
A good dashcam will record a better area and standout less.

ironclaw

I'm pretty sure Veloce, given the mount position, is not using it as a dashcam :pac: Plenty of people fix GoPro's etc around the Wicklow hills. Looks great mounted low on the front bumper or on the wing like Veloce.

keithclancy

I'd say your fine.

It doesn't stick out as much as this one.

Veloce

^^ Brilliant

ironclaw wrote: »

I'm pretty sure Veloce, given the mount position, is not using it as a dashcam :pac: Plenty of people fix GoPro's etc around the Wicklow hills. Looks great mounted low on the front bumper or on the wing like Veloce.

That's exactly it. I'm not using for dashcam purposes. More cinematic captures

Wicklow hills is a good idea actually!

CramCycle

Veloce wrote: »

I'm not doing it to record anything illegal. I just don't want to draw any significant attention to myself as the car itself is enough to do so.

Would be a nice shot driving round, I mounted my helmet cam under the handlebars on the left recently and the footage looks alot nicer but nowhere near as useful in a situation where you might need to see more.

My only concern is how easy is it to remove and would you be going through a city, it is very noticeable, all you need is some scrote with a good eye to take a chance.

Spook_ie

keithclancy wrote: »

I'd say your fine.

It doesn't stick out as much as this one.

But you're not likely to get a pedestrian walking into it :-) I think it goes along with damaged body work and trim, if it could cause harm or damage then you could be at odds with the law, e.g. Pretry sure it used to be a problem in the UK not to have a tow ball cover because of getting oil onto pedestrians legs, so can see an overly officious Gard looking for any sharp edges etc.

Del2005

Spook_ie wrote: »

But you're not likely to get a pedestrian walking into it :-) I think it goes along with damaged body work and trim, if it could cause harm or damage then you could be at odds with the law, e.g. Pretry sure it used to be a problem in the UK not to have a tow ball cover because of getting oil onto pedestrians legs, so can see an overly officious Gard looking for any sharp edges etc.

In the UK they enforce all laws unlike here where once you aren't DUI or exceeding the posted limit you need to really annoy a Garda to be done.

ironclaw

Del2005 wrote: »

In the UK they enforce all laws unlike here where once you aren't DUI or exceeding the posted limit you need to really annoy a Garda to be done.

True but that said, I believe externally mounted Tetra antennae were banned from Garda cars citing pedestrian hazard. How true that is I don't know, given that you'd have to do an almighty roll to hit the roof and an antenna would be the least of your concerns if you ended up there.

Del2005

ironclaw wrote: »

True but that said, I believe externally mounted Tetra antennae were banned from Garda cars citing pedestrian hazard. How true that is I don't know, given that you'd have to do an almighty roll to hit the roof and an antenna would be the least of your concerns if you ended up there.

Not too hard to get rolled over the roof of a car if caught the right way or a cyclist/biker hit it head on. Anything that catch a person is dodgy as it can cause the to flail about and potentially get more serious injuries, which makes me question how light bars and beacons are legal.