I finally bought my first dash cam for my car. I was expecting to catch footage of bad drivers and car crashes, but what I captured really surprised me. The camera I bought can record after the ignition is turned off using sound and motion detection to trigger recording.
The first time I parked at the grocery store, it captured 27 video clips. Most of them were people walking and cars driving in front of my car. Since my car was not damaged, I deleted the videos and moved on.
The next day, I parked my car in the garage to do some work for a video. It recorded 82 videos over the six hours it was on the lift. It even captured video of other events in the garage when I was not there.
It got me thinking. Are customers watching their vehicles being repaired? The unfortunate answer is yes. Just go to YouTube and search for “mechanic caught on dash cam.” It is pretty embarrassing in some cases how it captures a technician abusing a customer’s vehicle.
Some of the videos just capture techs making fun of a customer’s vehicle, bad modifications or dirty interior. Some of it captures the usual banter heard around shops, including the profanity.
Is it Legal?
Recording pictures or video in public is a right protected by the First Amendment. So, it is legal to use a dash cam to record whatever is outside the car on public roads.
Recording inside the car or outside at a private location can be another matter. In some states, drivers with dash cams can record audio inside the vehicle without consent. In some states, occupants need to be informed that they are being recorded.
Is it legal for a dash cam to record in your shop? Technically, it is in violation of employees’ and shops’ rights for a customer to record inside of your business, which is private property. They need to have your permission because it is private property. Other states have “eavesdropping” laws that say the person recording the conversation must be present.
Don’t feel comfortable with an owner recording what is happening in your bays? You can ask them to turn it off because it might interfere with battery testing equipment or maybe your shop’s camera-based alignment equipment.
Do not freak out and try to disconnect the camera. If the customer sees the last few seconds of a video are of a panicked technician fumbling around to disconnect a dash cam, it will put a lot of doubt into their mind. Some courts may see it as destruction of evidence.
Is the Dash Cam an
Opportunity?
If you are a shop owner, dash cams can make sure your technicians are on their best behavior. Their presence can help to keep horseplay and excessive socializing down in the shop.
If you see a dash cam, it is your chance to talk to the driver. Talk them through your inspection process and show them what you are doing. It might look a little crazy at first, but the customer will appreciate it.
Also, if a customer has an intermittent problem that did not happen while it was in for service, ask them to save the clip.
Dash cams are not a fad like CB radios and GPS navigation. Many OEMs are just starting to make them available as an option on some vehicles, with many more planning to make it a standard feature.
Know the rules before you accidentally break them.
