Dashboard cameras — Tennessee

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

Windshield placement and visibility

It is unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle in which any window that has had its visible light transmittance altered, treated or replaced by the affixing, application or installation of any material (i.e., dash cam) that:

• Has a visible light transmittance of less than 35 percent; or
• Reduces the visible light transmittance in the windshield below 70 percent.

This effectively makes windshield mounting illegal. Dashboard mounting is the best choice.

Audio and video recording

Tennessee is a one-party consent state. This means you can record audio as long as one party to the conversation (e.g., the driver or the passenger) consent.

In Tennessee, it is generally legal to record videos 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 Tennessee has one-party consent for audio recordings, fleet managers or drivers can record conversations in the vehicle as long one party, such as the driver consents. 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.