Attention drivers: This is how you avoid expensive dash cam fines!
Attention drivers: This is how you avoid expensive dash cam fines!
Portugal, Land - The summer months are the time of vacation for many people. While traveling with your own cars are more popular than ever, there are some regulations that drivers have to consider in order to avoid fines. Above all, the use of dashcams that are installed in many vehicles ensures confusion among travelers.
For example, dash cams are completely prohibited in Portugal. This ban is strictly enforced because the use of dash cams is regarded as a violation of privacy. Drivers who do not adhere to this regulation must expect high fines and possibly even legal proceedings. In Austria, too, fines can reach exorbitant heights for the use of dashcams, as punishments of up to 10,000 euros threaten - in the event 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 This means that drivers are allowed to take pictures while they are driving as long as they do not publish them without the consent of the people depicted. Since 2018 it has also been allowed to use Dashcam recordings in individual cases as evidence in court. It is important, however, that these recordings take place on a occasion, such as in the event of an accident or with extreme traffic disruptions.
The legal framework that regulates the use of dash cams in Germany are closely linked to data protection. Users must ensure that they do not violate third-party interests that could violate the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data evaluations by data protection supervisory authorities are possible, and if the use of dash cams, fines of up to 20 million euros or up to 4% of the annual turnover of a company can be imposed. Nevertheless, the fines in Hesse have so far reached a lower framework.
legal situation in other European countries
In other European countries, sometimes very different regulations apply to use dashcams. While the 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 completely prohibit the use of dashcams, while in France and Finland the regulations are stored similarly. An overview of the most important regulations clarifies the differences:
| Land | regulation |
|---|---|
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | unproblematic, inform those involved in the accident |
| Belgium | not use |
| Denmark | unproblematic, inform those involved in the accident |
| France | unproblematic, inform those involved in the accident |
| Austria | only for private use |
| Portugal | not use |
| Sweden | overwrite |
| Switzerland | not use |
The discussion about the legal framework for using dashcams is still in the early stages in many countries. The ADAC emphasizes that short, occasional recordings to clarify the question of guilt should be usable in accident situations. So far, some courts have decided that permanent, occasional records can serve as evidence under certain circumstances, but a balancing of interests must take place.
It is therefore crucial for drivers to find out about the specific regulations in the respective target country before a trip in order to avoid legal consequences. From Portugal to Austria there is a clear framework that can regulate travel with dashcams, whereby the protection of personal rights should always be in the foreground. Further information and the exact regulations can be found at Derwesten.de and adac.de .
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Ort | Portugal, Land |
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