Dash cams are becoming a popular solution in driver safety for fleets. We’ve discussed the many benefits and uses of dash cams in the past, but you may wonder about the laws regarding fleet dash cams. Are dash cams legal? Are there any laws and restrictions regarding their use? Let’s explore more about dash cams and their legality by state.
Dash Cam Law Overview
Dash cams are legal in every state! However, there are specific rules to follow for your dash cam to be legal, and those laws vary by every state. One concern that makes a huge difference is the recording of audio. You can wind up in legal trouble if you record audio in your vehicles without driver consent.
In most states, you can record conversations with the consent of just one person. However, in 12 states, you cannot record a conversation without the permission of everyone involved. These states are Connecticut, California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Aside from audio recording laws, there are other laws to consider as well. We will break these laws down by state.
Dash Cam Laws by State
States with Minimal Dash Cam Requirements
The states in this section have laws that simply outline that dash cams cannot obstruct driver vision. Therefore, fleets can place dash cams either on the windshield or the dashboard.
- Alaska*
- Arizona*
- California (Camera “may be mounted in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver or in a five-inch square mounted to the center uppermost portion of the interior of the windshield.”
- Florida
- Hawaii* (only top and bottom corners of windshield)
- Illinois* (only on the bottom corner of the passenger side windshield)
- Indiana*
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland (within a seven-inch square in the bottom corner of the windshield)
- Missouri
- Nevada* (lower corner of the windshield furthest removed from the driver)
- North Carolina
- Utah (cannot extend further than four inches from the top or lower left corner of the windshield)
- Vermont (lower right-hand side of the windshield as long as the device is less than four inches tall and 12 inches long, upper left-hand corner if it is 2 inches tall and 2.5 inches long)
States indicated with a * have additional requirements, which we will outline later.
States with Size Requirements for Dash Cams
Size requirements generally only apply to dash cams installed on the windshield, but double-check your state’s laws to be sure.
- Alaska: smaller than 5 square inches
- Arizona: smaller than 5 square inches on the driver’s side, smaller than seven square inches on the passenger’s side
- Hawaii: five to seven square inches
- Illinois: smaller than five square inches
- Indiana: smaller than four square inches
- Nevada: smaller than six square inches
States where Dash Cams Must Adhere to the Dashboard
These states do not allow dash cams on the windshield; they must be installed on the dashboard.
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- D.C.
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire (dash cams are allowed on the back window)
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Get a Top-Tier Dash Cam for Your Fleet!
We know that dash cams are an essential tool when you want to keep your drivers safe. You need a top-quality dash cam that can capture the necessary events reliably and with easy access to footage. Azuga’s AI SafetyCam is a full-featured dash cam that easily connects to your fleet management software. You will quickly see results– your drivers will be involved in fewer safety incidents and accidents as their awareness and accountability increase. Discuss your goals with an expert by requesting a demo of our dash cam technology.
