Dashboard cameras — Florida

Dash cams are legal in Florida, but the following rules should be considered:  

Windshield placement and visibility

Under Florida law, a person may not operate a motor vehicle with any sign, sunscreening material, product, or covering attached to, or located in or upon, the windshield, except:

• A certificate or other paper required by law.
• Transparent sunscreening material along a strip at the top of the windshield.
• An electronic toll payment device.
• A global positioning system device or similar satellite receiver device.

Since dash cams are not included in these windshield exceptions, it is illegal to attach a dash cam to the windshield. Acceptable locations include behind the rear-view mirror or on the dashboard.

Audio and video recording

Florida is an all-party consent state for audio recording. This means the driver and all passengers must give prior consent to the recording of any oral communication.

In Florida, it is generally legal to video record in public and in semi-public places like a truck cab, where there is little or no expectation of privacy.

However, video recording on private property (e.g., customer sites and delivery locations) without permission may be illegal, especially if footage includes people who are unaware that they are being recorded. Best practice: Dash cams should be deactivated or explicit permission obtained from the property owner or the individuals being recorded prior to video recording on private property.

Employee and driver privacy

Because Florida is an all-party consent state for audio recordings, fleet managers or drivers can record conversations in the vehicle if all parties to the conversation consent. The best practice, however, is to both post a sign in the cab and inform all passengers verbally (whether customers, contractors, or employees) of audio or video recording for purposes of trust, transparency, and to avoid privacy disputes.