'Dash Cam Law' Now Filed in Senate

Dash cams that continuously record your driving time may soon become a required feature on every public utility vehicle. Are you ready for it?

A new bill authored by Senator JV Ejercito seeks to mandate the installation of dash cams on every jeep, taxi, and bus, as well as any government, school, and office-owned vehicle. The bill covers every transport service offered to the public, so private-owned vehicles used for app-based transportation services, such as Uber and Grab, are also included.

The Dash Cam Law

Under the Act, known as the ‘Dash Cam Law,’ the dash cam must be attached via a suction cup onto the windshield or strapped to the rearview mirror. It must also turn on automatically once the vehicle starts and begin recording video. The recorded data must be stored via flash memory or some other removable storage device.

The bill also states that the dash cam should not occupy more than 5 square inches on the left side of the driver’s windshield side or not more than 7 square inches on the right side of the passenger’s side of the windshield.

In addition, dash cam use must comply with the current Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Failure to comply with these rules can fetch a fine of P50,000 and/ or suspension of the franchise.

A dash cam’s purpose

Dash cams are mainstays in many private vehicles, where they serve as evidence for car owners against malpractices committed by authorities, insurance fraud, and other drivers who won’t admit their mistake, among other things. Proving who’s at fault becomes easier when one has the hard evidence that dash cams provide. Without it, road mishaps and run-ins with traffic enforcers devolve into a game of ‘he said—she said.’

Should Senator Ejercito’s bill be passed into law, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) are to be the government agencies responsible for its implementation.

A good idea

Even without the law, having a dash cam is always a good idea. They are the perfect way to prove that you came to a full stop, did not run a red light, or didn’t do any other transgression that can be leveraged against you. Get ahead of the game and get a nice dash cam from a reliable automotive store near you. Better yet, try to convert that old smartphone of yours into a usable dash cam for your car.