3 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Dash Camera

What states are dash cameras illegal?

In all U.S. states, dashboard cameras are legal. The majority of the states do not allow a driver to mount a dash-cam on the windshield, but all of them allow a driver to mount one on the dashboard.

The majority of the U.S. states prohibit using windshield-mounted dash cameras, but it does not mean that people can’t use dash cameras in these states at all.

Most states have outlawed mounting a dash cam, or any device really, to your vehicle’s windshield. However, Lifewire reports that there are some exceptions to this rule. While some laws pertain specifically to mounting a camera on your windshield, other laws use vague language that’s designed to regulate things like sunscreens or stickers.

According to Dash Cam Car, the following states have prohibited windshield obstructions altogether: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Ohio.

Meanwhile, states like Arizona, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin have put some restrictions into place when it comes to mounting a camera on your windshield.

Remember, however, that just because it’s illegal to mount a dash cam to your windshield doesn’t mean it’s illegal to have one in your vehicle. “For as long as it doesn’t interfere with your optimal view of the road, then it should be perfectly fine. It is for this reason that placing the dash cam on the car’s dashboard makes a lot more sense since it will not generally obscure your view of the road.

Do dash cameras work when the car is off?

The dash camera is synchronized with the engine on and off, automatically recording video while you drive. But the current dash cam on the market already have a feature that stays on and keeps recording even when the car is parked and the engine is off, allowing you to use it as a surveillance camera while you're away from your vehicle.

Where does a dash cam get its power?

Most dash cams come with a power adapter for the cig lighter socket. It is usually possible with a kit to wire a dashcam to the cabin fusebox instead: Inline fuse (protects you/your vehicle from fire), Low voltage cut-off feature (voltage or Timer-based), and as well 12 v to 5v converter.

COOAU's D30 dash cam doesn't take up much windshield space, can be stealthily hidden behind your rearview mirror and has a solid, weighty feel to it.

The unit includes a built-in rear-facing cam, in addition to the front-facing one, which is night-vision capable thanks to the dual Sony IMX323 sensor and Novatek NT96663 processors on both. Things like license plates and street signs are clearly visible in the dark, and these both film in HD at 1920x1080P at the same time, at 30fps. An aperture of F1.8 lets in a large field of view at 170° (150º for the interior), covering peripheral blind spots and adjacent lanes of traffic. Plus it swivels 360º horizontally and 60º vertically, to capture what's happening all around you on the 1.5-inch TFT LCD screen.

If you live in a hot climate, the D30 can stand the heat. Its super-capacitor (instead of a heat-sensitive lithium-ion) inside can withstand temps up to 158ºF. The same goes for the other end of the thermometer, still going strong in freezing temps down to -4ºF.

This easily connects to your phone's FiCam app and can send and receive videos via Wi-Fi, along with altering settings and controlling the cam without having to take it down from the dash.

Its G-Sensor detects a collision and instantly locks down the video file from being recorded over, and even lets you customize the sensitivity setting. When you've arrived at your destination, parking mode provides all-day and all-night protection, even when you're away for days on end.