Using a Dashcam in Arizona? Here’s What You Need to Know

Ever had a near-miss on the road and wish you had proof?

Arizona drivers are doing much more than driving these days. All the distractions can cause more fender benders and accidents. When the worst happens, tempers flare, and memories get muddled.

Dashcams provide an unbiased record of what happens on the road. They can report only the facts, without emotion or bias. It's the perfect passenger: silent, attentive, and able to report on exactly what it sees without any kind of bias.

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Arizona Drivers Legally Using Dashcams

The technology behind dashcams has become more affordable, and it's the silent passenger you want in your vehicle when something happens on the road.

These little ride-along cameras quietly and without bias capture the events of an accident, can document a reckless driver on the roads, or capture something celestial, like a falling meteorite or a strange weather pattern.

What's The Law In AZ? Is It Illegal to Park in Front of a House?

These little cameras can be incredibly useful. Before you stick one on your windshield, it's good to have some legal context.

Are Dashcams Legal in Arizona?

Unlike radar detectors, which have laws that restrict their use in some states, dashcams can be legally used in all fifty states, including Arizona.

There are some important rules about where they can be placed and how they can be used.

Where Can You Mount a Dashcam?

Arizona law has some restrictions on where on your windshield you can mount a dashcam. According to Arizona Revised Statute 28-959.01, a dashcam can only be placed in one of two locations:

• Driver’s side: The dashcam needs to fit within a five-inch square in the lower corner closest to the driver.
• Passenger’s side: It must fit within a seven-inch square in the lower corner farthest from the driver.

If your dashcam is mounted outside these areas and dimensions, you could get a ticket for obstructing your view.

Can You Record Audio?

This is where things can get tricky in other states, but in Arizona, recording audio is legal.

Arizona is a one-party consent state, so you can legally record audio as long as one person in the conversation (such as the driver) consents to it.

Is It Legal to Secretly Record Someone in Arizona?

If you have passengers, you might want to let them know they're being recorded to avoid privacy concerns. (Even though legally, you're not required to.)

Is Dashcam Footage Admissible in Court in Arizona?

The number one reason drivers install dash cams is to act as a silent, legal witness if something goes sideways.

The good news is that dashcam footage can be used as evidence in legal cases, including car accidents and insurance claims. To be admissible in court, the footage has to be relevant, authentic, and unaltered.

Is It Legal To Film Police in Arizona?

What Happens If You Break the Rules?

Make sure your dashcam is mounted correctly. Otherwise, you could face fines or even be held liable in an accident. If the dashcam obscures your view, it could contribute to an accident.

Even worse, if you tamper with or delete footage that could be used in a legal case, you could face serious consequences.

Sources: ARS 28-959.01 | Begam Marks & Traulsen Attorneys