johnny quest Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 It seems like everyday, either myself or my fiance have a close call with other drivers not paying attention and almost hitting us while driving; either cutting us off, pulling out in front of us, or just generally being a bad driver. Luckily we have been able to swerve or slam on the brakes and avoid an accident, but eventually we won't be so lucky. So, I'm thinking its time for dash cameras. Do any of you use them? are there certain things to look for when shopping around for them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64 Cheyenne Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Wow, never thought about this. What about if YOUR dash cam proved YOU at fault? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinajeep726 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Wow, never thought about this. What about if YOUR dash cam proved YOU at fault? You destroy all evidence not in your favor. :yes: Make copies of everything that proves their at fault. I think a dash cam would be a great idea, so much so that I've contemplated it also... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 Wow, never thought about this. What about if YOUR dash cam proved YOU at fault? its a very real possibility. and I'm not saying that its impossible, but driving in Utah has made me a very observant driver. to the point that i can usually identify someone who is going to cut me off before they are a direct hazard. but I'm not perfect (far from it). I'm honestly more concerned about my fiance than myself. she drives more highway miles than i do, and encounters more idiots than i do. just today, she got cut off by someone pulling a trailer, pulled out from a street on the left, directly into her lane. luckily she was able to swerve at the last second, and luckily it was into an open lane, and not into the side of someone else car. obviously a dash cam wouldt have saved her from an accident had one occured, but it would be solid evidence if something had happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yxmj Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Wrong Topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Just an FYI, but not all states allow indiscriminate video taping. I recently had an issue with Johnny law and nearly got a $5,000 fine and time in the hoosegow because my video also had sound which is verboten in WA state. http://www.infowars.com/15-years-in-prison-for-taping-the-cops/ http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/dash-cams-pros-cons-of-the-high-tech-devices/ http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133857 Illegal also in Illinois, Oregon and NYC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 I've had a few close calls in the early months of winter that lead to me repairing my horn. Nearly got sandwiched against a new F350 when an Aveo pulled around a line of cars stopped to turn left. My mirror went over the top of the Aveo's, and my passenger said the mirror on his side went under the F350's. Then later that nay I nearly wound up with a rather exotic hood ornament in the shape of a Traverse that turned out of a parking lot (wheels spinning like crazy don't make you go any faster...) and then immediately moved accross three lanes of traffic to turn left into another parking lot, completely obliviously to the fact that there were other vehicles on the road... I don't have a dash cam, although I know a guy who just has a 1/4" bolt sticking up out of the dash that he screws his camera onto (like with a standard tripod mount). He just uses an older low-end digital camera that has capacity for a three-hour video, and he deletes the old one and starts a new one every time he sets out. He's also got a cigarette lighter charger so he doesn't use batteries. It's a bit of a bother turning it on all the time, but it cost him nothing since he got a newer camera as a gift and already had everything else. Course, though, probably the time he'd need it would be the time he forgot to turn it on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 yea i could do that, but id would run into the same issues. and i would forget to erase the card when it fills up. some that i have read about record up to 5-6 hours, and then start writing over the first stuff UNLESS you tell it to recall the data. i would rather go this route. I would also like something that is discrete, not because i need to hide it in my DD, but because my fiance drives a wrangler with the top off during the warmer months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Here is a good resource on them: http://dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/ If you want to see tons of crazy dash cam videos from Russia: http://www.reddit.com/r/Roadcam/ I am planning on grabbing a G1W model when I get around to ordering one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87manche1 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 A go pro is small Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted December 20, 2013 Author Share Posted December 20, 2013 A go pro is small this was mentioned in another thread i was reading, but the fact that i would have to erase the memory card each time it fills up is a turn off. also, theyre like 300 for the new ones. if there was a way to have it send the footage directly to a harddrive in the car, then we might be onto something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akula69 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 We use digital ally, which is a camera built into the front of a rear view mirror. Can come with a microphone. Records to a memory chip that can be downloaded. It also has a camera embedded in the mirror side for the back seat area. Upside: Absolutely clear pictures and good sound. Downside: About $5,000.00 clam each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyav8r Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Apparently dash cams are widely used in Russia and some of the former Soviet states for the reason you are contemplating using one. Much of the video of the meteor that hit over there came from dash cams. The explanation for the proliferation of dash cams is terrible drivers, lax traffic law enforcement, high cost of repairs and potential use of the footage in litigation. Had not heard that personal traffic video was illegal in some states. What's the deal with audio on the video being a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 You're required to have a release form from anyone you record. WA state is just audio that requires a signature. You could hear anything clearly on my vid or I would've had a more serious problem. They still haven't returned my camera either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyinajeep726 Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Note to self: Add Washington to list of states I'll never live in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91Pioneer Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 I have an Itronics ITB-100HD, I've had it for a few months now in my daily driver. It's wonderful, worth every penny. If you are considering one, avoid any under $100, and the GoPro is not the right tool for the job. Here is my latest video of random stuff I've caught on camera (no accidents), it will give you a feel for the ITB-100HD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjeJzZSmZFg I'm a technie gadget kind of guy so I like it. Most people don't give a crap until they have an accident and wish they had one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyav8r Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 Ditto to onlyinajeep726's comment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue88Comanche Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 I was planning to get a Dash cam for my charger.. I bought it in August as I nearly totaled it 2 weeks after I got it because some Chevy ran a stop sign. (not a 4 way stop) Thank you anti-lock brakes and ESP. I missed them by about 2 feet. One guy on chargerforums.com has a cam hooked up to turn on with the car and start recording. it will shut off with the car. While it is on it records continuously and saves files in 5 min segments. once the 8GB card is full it automatically writes over the oldest data. So its Pretty much set up and forget about it till video is needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91Pioneer Posted December 22, 2013 Share Posted December 22, 2013 Real dash cams turn on & off automatically, overwrite files, etc is why they're better than other options like the gopro and apps on your phone. Mine records audio too albeit it isn't the greatest. Mine came with an 8GB card but I found it a bit small, so I sprung for a new 32GB card, it is good for a few days (not sure the time length) before it overwrites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnuck Posted December 23, 2013 Share Posted December 23, 2013 Wish I had one in my MJ today. Bozo passes everyone on the 405 on the LEFT of the HOV lane, cuts back in (right across the front of my truck) and 3 lanes of traffic to get stuck under a semi with a Mitsubishi or something (it was a blur!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny quest Posted December 23, 2013 Author Share Posted December 23, 2013 I was planning to get a Dash cam for my charger.. I bought it in August as I nearly totaled it 2 weeks after I got it because some Chevy ran a stop sign. (not a 4 way stop) Thank you anti-lock brakes and ESP. I missed them by about 2 feet. One guy on chargerforums.com has a cam hooked up to turn on with the car and start recording. it will shut off with the car. While it is on it records continuously and saves files in 5 min segments. once the 8GB card is full it automatically writes over the oldest data. So its Pretty much set up and forget about it till video is needed. this is exactly what i want. bigger memory card too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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