Dashcam Video Cameras
Police vehicle dashboard camera video systems are among the most important technological advancements in modern law enforcement. The footage recorded by these in-vehicle video cameras can help officers provide evidence of criminal activity during traffic stops – and they also serve to expose inappropriate behavior by the officers themselves.
The installation and maintenance of dashcam video systems, servers, and computers are often paid for with taxpayer dollars. So wouldn’t it stand to reason that the public has a right to know what’s on these videotapes?
Lawmakers seem to think so. That’s why Seattle and Washington officials are trying to pass legislation that makes it easier for citizens and media outlets to access the footage that has been recorded by these dashcam systems. The move follows a lawsuit filed by Seattle TV station KOMO against the Seattle Police Department which alleges violations of the Public Records Act. KOMO news personnel claim that their repeated requests for dashcam video footage have been denied by SPD.
Seattleites have also run into resistance when trying to obtain video footage recorded by police cruiser cameras. Many people have been told that they are not allowed to view the footage or that the footage itself does not exist due to an error with the dashcam system. (Often, these requests are part of lawsuits against SPD for illegal arrests or unlawful behavior.)
Advocates hope that a new law will be enacted sometime this year that will codify and simplify the process of accessing video footage from police dashboard cameras.