Dash Cam benefits

I received a Minolta dash cam for Christmas. I’m pretty sure it’s a decent model I just don’t know if I really want to use it. Those of you that have them, what do you really like about them. I know in an accident they can be helpful. Just curious if I should keep it or send it back

 

Option 3...send it to me

 

Pretty much only used for accident evidence and occasionally if something really weird happens. It doesn't really require any maintenance or anything. Once it's there, it just exists until you need it.

 

This is why

 

Yep...insurance fraud.

 

Plug it in and forget it. In about a week you’ll have a blast realizing how much crap actually happens
in front of you. Stuff like that insurance fraud video scares me. Person has to protect themselves all
the time now.

 

That video is an eye opener.

 

A little reminder. The evidence on a dashcam is evidence. The police can use it for and against you. Erasing video can also be very expensive for you. If you are generally an aggressive driver and seem to get into many one finger salutes, tailgating, or basic precarious situations, then a dash cam can hurt you as much as help you. But the good thing is, as a Tundra driver we all know we are never in the wrong. So, there is that.

 

They write over themselves depending on how you set it up. If you have a small card it records only a couple of hours and then just writes over itself. Mine I set up with 2 min segments and a big enough card to record 16 hrs. Up here cops really only concern themselves with current situation. It would have to be relevant to go further back in the camera than the current situation. No law against being an asshat prior to whatever happened. Besides if it’s my fault that thing disappears in less than a nanoseconds nanosecond.

 

Only issue with that is in parking lots if someone backs into you or vandalizes you or you are robbed in your driveway. The 2min overwrite will destroy that evidence.

 

I have a Garmin and pay $10/mo for their 'Vault' storage (cloud). Nothing is written over unless I direct it to be.

 

I'd not think anyone has over write in 2 min. If i've confused it, mine completes a full 2 min segment unbroken and then records
the next 2 min, so on and so on for almost 16 hrs before it writes over that first 2 min. To be honest I record wildlife on the highway
generally just a matter of record. Hard to say I saw 3 lynx, 2 grizzlies on the highway and be believed - now it's proof.
And well, you know - Sasquatch. Really don't want to miss that. That's why rear facing dashcams are popular
and also invaluable. So when Sasquatch is tailgating, honking and giving you the finger you get that too! LOL

 

Ah got it. I read it as every 2mins it overrides the memory. Makes more sense now.

 

I've recorded a lot of funny/face-palm events, as well as a couple crashes. My wife witnessed a single-car potential DUI crash and the state police asked if we'd be willing to send in the video (we did, never heard back after that). The big thing, as mentioned above, is to protect against the he-said/she-said stuff.

 

Mine caught a near miss with a German Shepherd on my way home from the last day of work before Break. Only to see a Jeep that was coming toward me in the opposing lane hit him . I was sure the Jeep didn't try to avert, but after watching the footage, it did and I was glad for it. I ended up pulling over and calling the local LEO to locate the dog in case it needed to be put down. We never found the dog...

 

Definitely keep that gift and install it yourself. I did my own front and rear camera install (FitCamX) and it was a piece of cake. Nice to have peace of mind cuz you never know when you'll need it until you do.