Before you lot purchase a nuance cam, you might discover yourself asking: Are dash cams illegal? No. In fact, there are no federal laws outlawing such devices. However, many states do have restrictions in place that could touch on things like how and where you install your dash cam. Some states accept stipulations surrounding ones that record audio too. So, while dash cams may exist federally legal, it's non actually that elementary.

Dashboard Camera
A dash cam | Michal Fludra/NurPhoto

Dash cams can issue in an obstructed view

The first issue with outfitting your vehicle with a dash cam is where to put it. Lifewire reports that most cameras won't adhere to your vehicle's dashboard. Instead, Lifewire says that nigh of these devices use a suction loving cup mounting system to adhere to the windshield. This is of import considering many states have restrictions on how much of a windshield can exist obscured by devices like cameras and GPS systems.

According to Lifewire, if a device similar a camera obscures more a 5-inch foursquare on the driver's side or a vii-inch square on the passenger's side, you could observe yourself getting pulled over. Don't rely on those numbers specifically, though. Some states have tighter restrictions than others regarding windshield obstructions, making information technology essential to check up on the specific laws or municipal codes in your area.

Image of a dashcam in a car.
Image of a nuance cam in a machine. | Daniel Schäfer/picture alliance via Getty Images

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These states prohibit windshield-mounted dash cams

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

Co-ordinate to Dash Cam Machine, 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, Southward 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 photographic camera on your windshield.

Think, however, that just because it's illegal to mount a dash cam to your windshield doesn't mean it'south illegal to take one in your vehicle. "For as long as it doesn't interfere with your optimal view of the road, and so it should exist perfectly fine. It is for this reason that placing the dash cam on the car'due south dashboard makes a lot more sense since it will not mostly obscure your view of the road," Motorcar Bibles reports.

Agreement the intricacies of electronic surveillance and eavesdropping

"Dashcam Recording" is written on the sticker stuck to a car
"Dash cam Recording" is written on the sticker stuck to a motorcar | Friso Gentsch/moving-picture show alliance via Getty Images

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Windshield mounted cameras aren't the only problem, however. Dash cams often record audio, which in some states, presents a problem. According to Lifewire, "it may actually be illegal to use a dash cam if it records a chat in your vehicle without the knowledge of all the participants."

Road and Track reports that many states take eavesdropping statutes too. This could become an effect if you driblet your vehicle off at the local machine shop and forget to turn your photographic camera off. "If your dash cam records a conversation between people in the car that you are not a office of, it would be considered "eavesdropping" in many states," explains Road and Track. Some states take eavesdropping pretty seriously too. Michigan, for instance, considers it a felony.

Does this mean you lot shouldn't purchase one?

Non actually. In fact, such devices tin can be pretty useful. Instead, all this ways is that yous should do a good corporeality of research before buying and installing a nuance cam in your car.

DISCLAIMER: The legality of dash cams in any given state tin can change at any time. Before installing one in your vehicle, consider consulting with a lawyer, reading the relevant code or laws yourself, or even reaching out to local police force enforcement.