Any in-Expensive Mini Clip-on Dash Cam?

Zachary on 10/03/2016 - 19:28
Last edited 10/03/2016 - 21:22

Hi, was thinking of getting one and clipping(or tacking it on somehow) it onto the dashboard where the the speedometer is at. So are there any small-ish dash cam that has a clip-on feature or some sort that I can just hang over the dashboard or something that also watermarks the video, whilst it's recording, with realtime(so as it records, the hr, minute and second of the day is also marked) and date? And have enough storage that it can keep a months length of recording. Doesn't have to record sound so space is saved there. Don't care if video quality isn't HD or FHD, as long as the readings on the speedometer is readable.

My thinking is that if, in future, I ever got flashed for speeding, as a precaution, I could use the video this cam took as evidence(if I obviously didn't speed at the time) and tell them in court(or over the phone or however the dispute is to be handled), nope I wasn't speeding - this video that my mini dash cam took says so as proof.

"As you can see, I was only going 78km/hr(Actually, I won't be able to specify this as I have an analogue speedometer, not a digital one; but what I can say is that the needle was pointing in there and not over) in the 80km/hr zone that I was driving on, NOT 150km/hr(or what ever figure they pulled out of their arses that is over the speed limit and want me to cop it) as stated on the piece of paper that I was given."

And hopefully that video should prove that I didn't speed.

Otherwise, my other option is to purchase a speed camera detector and install that and then have that tell me whenever one is coming up so that I check my speedometer to see if I'm over or under. If I'm over, I'll slow down, if I'm under, I'll continue to drive at the speed just in case…. Or I could get both! Two safety nets! ☺

I don't usually speed but I hear that cops can still get you even if you didn't speed, just so they can make some money off you.

I was copped once at 104km/hr on a 100km/hr freeway. This was a while ago. Obviously I have no idea(can't remember when the letter arrived) if I even did do that or not - but how I drive is that I check my surroundings more than looking at how fast I'm going(but according to them, I was) as they send you the letter like a week or two later and you would have forgotten about it.

So yeah, this little thing will hopefully clear up what and how fast you were going when you got clocked at the specific day and time.

Automotive

Comments

  • nocure on 10/03/2016 - 19:32
    +2

    Otherwise, my other option is…

    Do the speed limit. 😀

    • Zachary on 10/03/2016 - 21:23
      -1

      I do, just that sometimes I do it without knowing…..which is what the dashboard cam is for to(turn back time to whatever day it was and whatever time I was driving) show me if I did unknowingly go over a bit or too much. If that's case, then very well I will own up.

      It's just that I want to make sure I was over the limit or if the coppers are just wanting me to pay up even though I didn't go over…..

  • spackbace on 10/03/2016 - 19:33
    +2

    Or… and here's a thought… don't speed?

    Use a GPS to check your speedo accuracy so you have some idea of how accurate/inaccurate it is (I've found some can be 10%, so speedo says you're doing 110kph when in reality you're doing 100kph). Need to use a long flat road and use cruise control.

    No cop will care about your video evidence to prove otherwise, or you have to take a day off work just to go to court with your video evidence. What's that worth to you?

    If you're gonna speed, keep it to no more than 10kms over so as to lessen the fine, simple?

    • spackbace on 10/03/2016 - 19:38
      +1

      Actually, from re-reading your post, it seems like you think your speedo is accurate so you think a recording of that is proof enough that you weren't speeding, when you couldn't be further from the truth.

      • Zachary on 10/03/2016 - 21:25

        No, if obviously I was speeding at the time of the flash, I would happily own up and pay the fine. However if the video shows that I wasn't but the letter says otherwise, I would have a video to show them.

        • spackbace on 10/03/2016 - 21:40

          Your speedo isn't accurate!

          You may as well have video footage of your tacho for all the good it's gonna do!

        • Zachary on 10/03/2016 - 21:55

          @Spackbace: Well then what grounds can you fight them on if you can't say, "oh but my speedometer says this at the time, according to this video my dashboard cam took"?

          Ok, how about this, I have a Nokia Lumia 920, does the Here Drive+ app work in this case? As that's what I use as my GPS when going to unknown places on the fly. Or do I need a proper GPS unit for the car to determine speed…?

          I will try your method and see how inaccurate my speedometer is, compared to Here Drive+, when I can. I'll see if I can take off when not in peak traffic hour so I get a clear stretch of road to test with. Hmmm, now to find a long stretch of road that's 100% flat that is also not absurdly kilometers away to get to….

        • spackbace on 10/03/2016 - 21:57

          @Zachary:

          Your own speedo accuracy or lack of isn't sufficient evidence in court. The police versions have to be calibrated continually, so are deemed to be the most accurate measuring device.

        • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2016 - 22:00
          +1

          @Zachary:

          A speedometer is fairly easy to rig, and it may become just as inaccurate owing to numerous other non-tampering methods. You could, with some engineering skill, adjust your speedometer to read 40 when you're doing 60.

          So does that mean I can steam through school zones at an actual speed of 60 just because my speedometer happens to read 40 at the time?

          As convenient as it may be to suggest that police fabricate motorists' speeds for revenue raising, this is far from the truth.

        • Zachary on 12/03/2016 - 23:38

          @Spackbace: Going on Reid Hwy having the needle pointing 90, GPS says 86/87 km/hr, it fluctuates, so probably not the flattest of the roads. So my speedometer is off by three to four km/hr…..

          @KaptnKaos: Oh that's interesting, didn't think tampering with the speedometer was possible…..

          Well obviously no, but since your speedo reads 40, how would you know you were going 60?

          Well yeah, there were some news on TV a while back saying cops were booking people for doing even the littlest over the limit, like I was(unless it was actually 106 like someone but since I don't have the paper I can't confirm that) and there was people who got booked for doing like many ks over the limit but they were actually doing the speed limit…….. Hence my idea of taping my speedo run on the day I was flashed, however according to you the speedo can be altered but who's gonna do that just to go over the limit? I mean sure if your intentions was but I've yet to see anyone try this…..

  • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2016 - 19:37
    +3

    Did you know?

    If your speedometer displayed 60 and you were fined at, say, 70, no matter what instantaneous proof you had of what your speedometer was displaying, that you would still be fined for what the camera detected you as travelling at?

    You're trying in vain, my friend. Speeding is a strict liability offence, meaning that the offence will be proven against you if the infringement issuing agency can prove that your vehicle was exceeding the speed limit at the time of detection, regardless of what you can prove your speedometer was displaying. For that matter, GPS-based devices showing speeds are inadmissible in most courts of law as evidence alone.

    And regarding your freeway issue where you were detected at 104 in a 100 zone? You're probably one of those drivers that zoom past and honk at the honest motorists genuinely travelling at 100. For you to be detected at 104, you must have been doing at least 106 in a 100 zone.

    A camera to catch out the cops isn't what you need. What you actually need is a change in your driving behaviour.

    • Zachary on 10/03/2016 - 21:32
      -2

      I see….so apparently it's not worth investing in either…

      Nope, I was definitely at 104, though I don't have the piece of paper anymore so I can't verify it….

      So you think I should drive like an old grandma, doing 80(or 5km/hr less than limit on other roads) on the freeway and slowing traffic down whenever possible just so I don't get flashed and then annoy other drivers whilst I'm at it? I thought being a slow driver increases the chance of road rages…

      • [Deactivated] on 10/03/2016 - 21:55
        +1

        On any particular street, the speed limit is just that - a limit. It is not a speed guide, not a speed minimum, not a suggested speed nor an ideal speed. The intention of a speed limit is that motorists drive at or under the signposted speed limit, regardless of what other drivers do or think.

        All vehicles made for the Australian market must be fitted with a speedometer that positively exaggerates the actual speed. This is not an invitation for people to discover the magnitude of discrepancy of their vehicle's speedometer, nor to travel at the actual speed instead of the displayed speed. For instance, when you go for your licence test, try arguing that your car was actually doing 80 when the examiner sees you're doing 83. You will fail.

        Now I'm not advocating habitual driving at 80 in a 100 zone, nor 40 in a 60 zone. What I will say is that every motorist should drive at a speed that is most appropriate for the situation at hand, which should be equal to or lesser than the signposted speed limit.

        If your car says you are doing 100, and you're in a 100 zone, please stick to it. It's the best thing you can do. If other drivers flash you, honk at you, flip the bird at you, ignore them. By following this little piece of advice, and by keeping your eyes on the road instead of concentrating on idiots who insist that you go faster, not only will you be a safer driver but you'll keep yourself well clear of any infringements.

        What I do recommend for every motorist, however, is a decent dashcam fitted to your vehicle. That way, if any moron decides to inflict damage to your car and then drives off, you'll be protected. It's the best insurance policy anybody could have.

        • Zachary on 12/03/2016 - 23:47

          Back when I was going for my license, I was one of those slow drivers. Now I'm one of those on target drivers and not holding up traffic kind of driver unless I'm lost or looking for a place that I haven't been to before. I now understand the frustration of being slowed down by some slow driver or really careful driver so I don't want to be that person.

          So I should still ignore them even if they ram my rear or and try to side swipe me because I'm doing the limit? I know some people will actually go this distant and take out their frustration on these kind of drivers….I just don't want to be on the receiving end…….

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