Dashcam questions with Uber

HooRU

My Dashcam came today, it comes with a separate rear camera. I want to set the rear camera facing backwards from the windshield to record passengers. Is that a common thing to do? I keep reading about passengers making false accusations and misbehaving badly. Drivers have to protect themselves.

Also, do most cars come with 2 USB Power connections and are they USB C?

urbanriot

HooRU You put in the subject “with Uber” - if you’re an Uber driver then yes, it’s normal. If you’re just a dude driving friends around then you’re a weirdo.

HooRU

I’m telling Mom that you said weirdo! 😉

egeezer

HooRU . I want to set the rear camera facing backwards from the windshield to record passenger

Check with local or state laws about any requirements you might need to meet for disclosure and/or consent for recording.

urbanriot

egeezer

Check with local or state laws about any requirements you might need to meet for disclosure and/or consent for recording.

At the end of the day it could be argued as a First Amendment right to record and you’d probably win regardless of state laws. This isn’t the same as a person driving their own car with friends, when travelling in a taxi there’s an expectation that you’re not in a private space, that everything you say to another person is overheard by at least one or more other persons.

Certainly a state like CT might run you through the legal ringer but at the same time the Constitution trumps state laws.

I’d put up visible signs though, to make it easier to avoid civil litigation (which you suggested with “disclosure and/or consent for recording”).

egeezer

urbanriot At the end of the day it could be argued as a First Amendment right to record and you’d probably win regardless of state laws.

I doubt that OP is interested in spending time and money hiring lawyers to fight lawsuits or charges related to the use of recording devices.
IMO the OP should still check with local and state laws as they may apply to Uber/Lyft etc.

urbanriot

egeezer

I doubt that OP is interested in spending time and money hiring lawyers to fight lawsuits or charges related to the use of recording devices.

Right, which is why I wrote, “I’d put up visible signs though, to make it easier to avoid civil litigation” 😉

Rich221976

urbanriot

I was looking in the app under my account but I am not sure if there is a way to tell Uber if your using camera or not. I know that with the Lyft App, you tell Lyft that you have a dash cam and also if you are recording the people that way the people are notified that you are recording through the app.

However, I couldn’t find anywhere in the Uber app for that. There might be a place but I didn’t see one when I just looked at the app. My accounts are limited right now away because I haven’t updated my registration with them.

Sometimes, I will drive just for fun. I can get bored and just go on the app and drive people around.

HooRU

It’s in the app, you can pair the camera with the uber app, there is a youtube on it.

But I can’t even see inside the app until I get the car it seems. Also, no message whatsoever about the 40 dollar ride to the rental office.

urbanriot

Rich221976 I see a lot of clips on social media of bad passengers or crazy events, I always thought all the drivers recorded their trips, like it was a company policy.

HooRU

Ok, very early this morning I talked to support and researched the topic some more. They applied my 40 dollar ride credit to get to the rental place. I also saw how to pair the car cam to the service and I read state law on its use. I cannot put video online in many instances. About ⅓ of the drivers I’ve been with have them, mine doesn’t record audio so I’m going to record audio via the uber app and I have a small recorder to bring with me.

My Car Cam doesn’t have 3 cameras (front, rear, and inside) it has front and rear. I will put the rear inside. It will still capture through the windows. I’ll get a better one later.

It’s suggested to put up a sign that you are using a camera and riding is permission for it.

I also saw a suggestion to get barf bags, Car liquids, car starter, tool kit, cleaning supplies, and vacuum. I’ll get those when I am able.

Rich221976

urbanriot

You have the choice to record if you want to. When I drive, I avoid the bars. I like to go early around 5 am to about 10 am and get the people that are going back and forth to work. I will also hit up our airport and drop and pick up from there as well.

I only did it for fun so, I choose where I wanted to go to avoid the bad passengers.

I don’t do bars. I don’t want anyone puking in the car. Granted I get to charge them a cleaning charge but still. My car is still pretty much in brand new condition.

I also got to take a good amount of people to work at the Amazon warehouse here in Orlando.

Rich221976

HooRU

If you are planing on doing this on a regular basis consider getting a car wash subscription. I have a place called mister car wash, and I get unlimited washes and vaccum on my vehicle. I got about 5-6 times a month to make sure I get my money back from it.

It can be considered a business expense as well.

HooRU

Yeah, sounds like a plan I was out for 6 hours today, but I went to Timbuktu, I need to get better at trying in city. But I got a 7 dollar tip from one person.

HooRU

Very dangerous drivers on the freeway.

Guy54435

HooRU Stay safe out there.

Astyanax

Rich221976 I also got to take a good amount of people to work at the Amazon warehouse here in Orlando.

If Amazon warehouse workers have to take an Uber to get to work they might as well call out sick. The pay can’t be worth the cost of the fares back and forth.

Astyanax

egeezer Check with local or state laws about any requirements you might need to meet for disclosure and/or consent for recording.

HBO made an entire show around videos of people in taxicabs.

https://www.max.com/shows/taxicab-confessions-the-city-that-never-sleeps/0d9796cc-6499-4965-beb8-24116ac05fb3

egeezer

Astyanax
This;
https://recordinglaw.com/united-states-recording-laws/

I stand by my recommendation to check state and local laws, and see no reason to recommend against doing so.

In the case of the show you cited, “If you are recording someone’s likeness for business purposes, you should ensure that you gain proper consent by having them fill out a photo or video consent form”
https://recordinglaw.com/united-states-recording-laws/one-party-consent-states/new-york-recording-laws/