We've had dash cams (front and back) in our cars since getting broadsided 10 years. While I've never needed the video for my own defense I have caught two accidents on video that immediately resolved the situation. In one case, a driver was slowly creeping across a crosswalk near an elementary school when a young boy dashed into the crosswalk, hit the side of the car, bounced off and limped back to the curb. The driver pulled over and chaos ensued. I couldn't believe what I had seen so I loaded the video onto my laptop for a better view and sure enough, the kid actually hit the car. As I walked up to the two officers on scene one of them was typing on his laptop and his sergeant was apparently in charge so I offered him the video. He popped it into his laptop, watched it and immediately told his partner, "Stop typing!". They were apparently writing up the driver which would have been a very serious charge. Then the lieutenant arrived on scene and everyone, including the mother who wanted the driver arrested, gathered around and watched the video together. The mom still wanted at least a ticket written but the LT refused, explaining that her child was clearly at fault and fortunately, not seriously injured. In the other case a car in front of me made a left turn on a yellow, flashing left arrow and got hit by an oncoming car. Again, fortunately, no injuries. I explained to the officer on scene that I had it on video but he kept asking me what color the lights were. I again explained that it was all on video. After he and his partner watched it on their laptop his partner came back to me shaking his head and smiling. "Dash cams are the greatest!' was all he said.
We've had dash cams (front and back) in our cars since getting broadsided 10 years. While I've never needed the video for my own defense I have caught two accidents on video that immediately resolved the situation.
In one case, a driver was slowly creeping across a crosswalk near an elementary school when a young boy dashed into the crosswalk, hit the side of the car, bounced off and limped back to the curb. The driver pulled over and chaos ensued. I couldn't believe what I had seen so I loaded the video onto my laptop for a better view and sure enough, the kid actually hit the car. As I walked up to the two officers on scene one of them was typing on his laptop and his sergeant was apparently in charge so I offered him the video. He popped it into his laptop, watched it and immediately told his partner, "Stop typing!". They were apparently writing up the driver which would have been a very serious charge. Then the lieutenant arrived on scene and everyone, including the mother who wanted the driver arrested, gathered around and watched the video together. The mom still wanted at least a ticket written but the LT refused, explaining that her child was clearly at fault and fortunately, not seriously injured.
In the other case a car in front of me made a left turn on a yellow, flashing left arrow and got hit by an oncoming car. Again, fortunately, no injuries. I explained to the officer on scene that I had it on video but he kept asking me what color the lights were. I again explained that it was all on video. After he and his partner watched it on their laptop his partner came back to me shaking his head and smiling. "Dash cams are the greatest!' was all he said.
Great examples of dash cams. Thanks for commenting.