What’s Legal Where You Live?

State Mounting laws Audio recording laws Used as evidence? Alabama Must be on dashboard, illegal on windshield, cannot obstruct driver’s view All-party consent required Video generally legal in public places, dash cam footage can be used as evidence. Alaska Must not obstruct driver’s view. Fewer than 5 square inches on driver’s side; 2”x2” permitted; 3”x3” illegal Single-party consent likely Arizona Must be on dashboard, illegal on windshield, cannot obstruct driver’s view. Screen size up to 5” on driver’s side or 7” square on passenger side. Single-party consent required Infractions of placement could result in a ticket, plus liability for an accident. Footage is usually admissible in court. Arkansas Must be behind rearview mirror, must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Infractions of placement could result in a ticket. Footage is usually admissible in court. California Must not obstruct driver’s view. No more than 5 square inches on upper center of windshield or 7 square inches in lower right corner. Cannot be mounted where airbags deploy. All-party consent required Driver must notify passenger about the presence of a dash cam, especially if recording audio. Recording data belongs to the driver; footage admissible in court if not tampered with. Colorado Must not obstruct driver’s view, reflect glare or cause distraction. Preferred placement behind rearview mirror or center of windshield near the top. Not permitted on reflective surfaces. Single-party consent required Police may not seize a dash cam during a traffic stop without a subpoena. Generally admissible in court, but some local ordinances have additional restrictions. Connecticut Must not obstruct driver’s view. It is illegal to have an opaque object on the windshield, must be mounted on dashboard. All-party consent required Generally admissible as evidence if legally obtained. Delaware Dashboard mount only without obstructing the driver’s view. All-party consent required Florida Must not obstruct the driver’s view. All-party consent required Passengers must be informed about audio or video recording. Generally admissible as evidence if authenticated. Can be accepted as evidence by insurance companies for claims. Georgia Dashboard mount only without obstructing the driver’s view. All-party consent required Generally admissible as evidence unless the camera was illegally placed. Hawaii Top or bottom corners of windshield, limited to 5 square inches. Must not interfere with airbag deployment or create safety hazards. Single-party consent likely Generally admissible if obtained legally. Idaho Recommended placement behind rearview mirror; must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Generally admissible if obtained legally; some exceptions for private settings without consent. Illinois Must be on driver’s side of dashboard, cannot obscure more than 5 square inches of windshield; must not unreasonably obscure driver’s view. All-party consent required Legal to record on-duty police officers in public. Generally admissible in court and for insurance if compliant with state laws. Identifiable information should be redacted or blurred. Indiana Bottom corner of windshield on passenger side only; must not obstruct driver’s vision. No larger than 4” square. Single-party consent required Generally admissible if obtained legally; must have proper placement and compliance with state laws. Iowa Recommended placement behind rearview mirror; must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Generally admissible if obtained legally and without violating privacy laws; must have proper placement. Kansas May be on either dashboard or windshield, must not substantially obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Generally admissible if obtained legally; must not obstruct driver’s view. Kentucky Should not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Generally admissible if obtained legally; must not obstruct driver’s view. Louisiana Must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent likely Passengers should be notified of recording; police may only acquire footage with owner’s consent. Footage can be used for court cases and insurance claims. Maine May be on either windshield or dashboard as long as it does not obstruct the driver’s view. Single-party consent required Generally admissible if obtained legally; exemptions for required truck equipment. Maryland Must be above AS-1 line or higher than 5” below the top of the windshield and must not obstruct driver’s view. All-party consent required Legal if video is of a public interaction, but illegal to secretly record a private conversation. It is legal to record on-duty police officers. Footage usually admissible in court and for liability, but it is illegal to delete or alter footage of an accident. Massachusetts Illegal on windshield. Must be on dashboard without obstructing driver’s view. All-party consent required Legal in public spaces, illegal to secretly record private conversations. Admissible in court with proper foundation, driver should inform passengers if recording audio. Michigan Illegal on windshield, must be on dashboard and may not obstruct driver’s view. Must not interfere with airbag deployment.

Exceptions: Large trucks, truck tractors, buses, hazardous waste vehicles.

All-party consent required Legal for public interactions. Generally admissible as evidence for lawsuits and insurance if properly authenticated. Driver should inform passengers, especially if recording audio. Minnesota Must be immediately behind, or slightly below or above the rearview mirror. Illegal to mount on the dashboard. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Mississippi Must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Missouri No regulations. Recommended to obstruct less than 5-inch square on driver’s side. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Montana Illegal on windshield, recommended on dashboard. Must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Nebraska Cannot be directly on windshield. Recommended on dashboard. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Obtain consent for audio recording in order to ensure it will be admissible. Nevada Must be in bottom passenger-side corner of windshield or on dashboard. Must not obstruct driver’s view. All-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally and if all parties were informed if audio was recorded. New Hampshire Illegal on front windshield, must be on dashboard. Rear cameras permitted All-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. New Jersey Must not be on windshield or anywhere that obstructs driver’s view. Recommended on dashboard. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Inform passengers about audio recording to ensure compliance and admissibility. New Mexico Recommended near rearview mirror, bottom right corner of windshield on the passenger side, or on dashboard. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. New York Must not obstruct driver’s view, cause a distraction, or interfere with airbag deployment. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Inform passengers about audio recording to ensure compliance and admissibility. North Carolina No specific laws. Should not obstruct driver’s view or interfere with airbag deployment. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Police may seize dash cams as evidence during an accident investigation, and footage could be used either for or against the owner. North Dakota Illegal on windshield, must be on dashboard. All windows to be clear of dash cams, stickers, posters or other obstructions. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Ohio Illegal on windshield, must not obstruct driver’s view. Recommended on dashboard. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Should inform passengers about audio recording. Police dash cam footage is included as public record, though some segments could be redacted. Oklahoma Illegal on windshield, must not obstruct driver’s view. Recommended on dashboard. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if obtained legally. Oregon Must be on dashboard; illegal on windshield or other windows. All-party consent required A judge has discretion on admissibility in court; audio should be disabled if passengers are not informed, pursuant to consent laws. Pennsylvania Must be on dashboard; illegal on windshield or other windows. Must not obstruct driver’s view. The dash cam screen must not be visible to the driver while driving. All-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally; audio should be disabled if passenger are not informed. There are different regulations for police vehicles. Rhode Island No restrictions, as long as it doesn’t obstruct the driver’s view. All-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally, but avoid recording in areas where there is an expectation of privacy. South Carolina Must be on dashboard; illegal on windshield or other windows. Must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally; police or other parties may request or subpoena footage, and footage could be used either for or against the owner. South Dakota Must be on dashboard; illegal on windshield or other windows. Must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Tennessee Must be on dashboard; windshield is illegal. Must not obstruct driver’s view. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Should inform passengers if audio is being recorded. Texas Must not obstruct driver’s view through windshield, side windows or rear window. Should not interfere with airbag deployment. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Should inform passengers if audio is being recorded. Utah May be mounted on top of windshield, not more than 4” down or in lower left corner, not more than 4” out. May be on dashboard. Rear-view cameras may be installed. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Vermont May be on windshield in lower right-hand corner and must be fewer than 4” tall and 12” long; can be in upper left-hand corner, no more than 2” high and 2.5” long. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Virginia May not obstruct driver’s view in windshield or windows. Recommended behind rearview mirror, in lower corner of windshield, or on dashboard. Screens should not be visible to the driver while driving. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Permitted in public areas or when there is no reasonable expectation of privacy. Washington Must not obstruct driver’s view; cannot obscure more than 5” square on driver’s side or 7” square on passenger’s side. All party consent required. Usually admissible if recorded legally. Passengers should be informed about audio recording to comply with consent laws. It is illegal to record a private conversation without consent. West Virginia Illegal on windshield; must be on dashboard and may not obstruct the driver’s view. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Wisconsin May not be on windshield, except behind the rearview mirror. May not be where windshield wipers clean; dashboard is recommended. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally. Wyoming May not obstruct driver’s view. Dashboard is recommended. Single-party consent required Usually admissible if recorded legally.