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Attention drivers: How to avoid expensive dashcam fines!
Find out what traffic regulations and fines apply to holiday travel by car in Europe. Protect your rights!
Attention drivers: How to avoid expensive dashcam fines!
The summer months are a time of vacation for many people. While traveling by car is more popular than ever, there are some regulations that drivers must follow to avoid fines. In particular, the use of dashcams, which are installed in many vehicles, causes confusion among travelers.
In Portugal, for example, dashcams are completely banned. This ban is strictly enforced as the use of dashcams is considered an invasion of privacy. Drivers who do not comply with this rule face hefty fines and possibly even legal action. In Austria, too, fines for the use of dashcams can reach exorbitant levels, with penalties of up to 10,000 euros - and in the case of repeated violations even up to 25,000 euros.
Legal situation in Germany
In Germany, the use of dashcams is only permitted for private use. This means that drivers are allowed to take pictures while driving as long as they do not publish them without the consent of the people in the picture. Since 2018, it has also been permitted to use dashcam recordings as evidence in court in individual cases. However, it is important that these recordings are made on an occasion-related basis, such as in the event of an accident or extreme traffic disruptions.
The legal framework that regulates the use of dashcams in Germany is closely linked to data protection. Users must ensure that they do not violate the legitimate interests of third parties, which could violate the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data evaluations by data protection supervisory authorities are possible, and unauthorized use of dashcams can result in fines of up to 20 million euros or up to 4% of a company's annual turnover. Nevertheless, the fines in Hesse have so far been lower.
Legal situation in other European countries
In other European countries, there are sometimes very different regulations regarding the use of dashcams. While use is unproblematic in countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Denmark, those involved must be informed after an accident. Other countries such as Belgium and Luxembourg ban the use of dashcams entirely, while France and Finland have similar regulations. An overview of the most important regulations clearly shows the differences:
| country | control |
|---|---|
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | No problem, inform those involved in the accident |
| Belgium | Do not use |
| Denmark | No problem, inform those involved in the accident |
| France | No problem, inform those involved in the accident |
| Austria | For private use only |
| Portugal | Do not use |
| Sweden | Overwrite recordings regularly |
| Switzerland | Do not use |
The discussion about the legal framework for the use of dashcams is still in its early stages in many countries. The ADAC emphasizes that short, event-related recordings should be usable to clarify the question of guilt in accident situations. To date, some courts have ruled that permanent, unprovoked recordings can serve as evidence in certain circumstances, but a balance of interests must be carried out.
It is therefore crucial for drivers to find out about the specific regulations in the respective destination country before traveling in order to avoid legal consequences. From Portugal to Austria, there is a clear framework that can regulate traveling with dashcams, although the protection of personal rights should always be the priority. Interested readers can find further information and the exact regulations at derwesten.de and adac.de.