Dashboard cameras — Ohio

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

Windshield placement and visibility

No person may drive any motor vehicle, other than a bus, with any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material (e.g., dash cam) upon the front windshield, side wings, side, or rear windows. This restriction does not apply to:

• A person who is driving a passenger car with dash cam located in the front windshield if either of the following apply to the dash cam:
  • It is a "vehicle safety technology" as defined in 49 C.F.R. 393.5. and complies with 49 C.F.R. 393.60(e)(1)(ii).
  • It does not restrict the vehicle operator's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals, and it does not conceal the vehicle's identification number.
• A person who is driving a commercial car with a dash cam located in the front windshield if either of the following apply to dash cam:
  • It is a "vehicle safety technology" as defined in 49 C.F.R. 393.5. and complies with 49 C.F.R. 393.60(e)(1)(ii).
  • It does not restrict the vehicle operator's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals, and it is mounted not more than eight and one-half inches below the upper edge of the windshield.

Dash cams are generally considered “vehicle safety technology”. As such, windshield mounting is acceptable if it meets the above specifications. Dashboard or behind the rear-view mirror mounting of dash cams is also an option.

Audio and video recording

Ohio 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 Ohio, 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 Ohio 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.