I have a dashcam and power it via the 12v supply in the centre console.

Took car to main dealer I have footage of me pulling up outside the dealers and the next footage is of the car reversing out the workshop section clock shows that I was stood in reception waiting for my car.

My question is does the dealer have the right to disconnect my USB unit from the 12v supply to stop recording; blatantly avoiding the test drives being on record etc? There was no reason on either occasions to disconnect my dashcam.

Reason I ask is this is the second time my car has gone into the same main dealers and every time they remove the dashcam supply to stop it recording and plug it back in when I collect it.

The short answer is yes. If they want to unplug it they can do.

 

The longer answer... You are within your rights to insist that they leave the camera running at all times, and in that case they are within their rights to say that they won't service your car. You can then find somewhere else to take it.
We all know that some garage staff won't drive your vehicle in a fashion you'd approve of, but that's just one of those unavoidable facts of life.

 

Look at it from the other side. Would you want to be filmed at work, even if you turn up every day planning on doing a good job?

 

When you dropped the car off, did you politely ask them to leave it connected?

 

I don't think it's something worth falling out with your dealership over.

Unfortunately.... I'm on film all day doing my job :(

May need to look at hardwiring it in, it is so annoying.

Luckily in my Fiesta ST, it had a 12v outlet on the rear of the centre console, so caught some of it, until the technician pulled it out the dashcam directly.

On the flip side if your doing your job correctly in a professional manner why would a dashcam recording the cars movements be a problem, you feel the need to remove the supply?

Even hardwired in, they are easy to unplug at the cam end.

When I work on vehicles I unplug any dashcams whilst I'm working on them, I hate being watched, I do work which is 90% through word of mouth and do not advertise, I'm selective over customers and they know my work ethic, I will however happily reconnect it when I take it on the test drive.

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I would request its left on if I noticed they unplugged it, no reason for it to be disconnected if they have nothing to hide.

Think of it another way.. Would you want to be filmed at work?

If somebody followed me around n put a camera over my shoulder whilst i was servicing their boiler.. Id put it back together n leave the job.

Think of it another way.. Would you want to be filmed at work?

If somebody followed me around n put a camera over my shoulder whilst i was servicing their boiler.. Id put it back together n leave the job.

Plus most plaster their footage over the Internet even if no problems

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Do you a warning on the dash that you will be recording whilst on private premises?

Do you have written permission from the business that you are allowed to film whilst on their private premises?

Do you have written permission to record an individual whilst he is working on private premises?

Do you allow the business owner and his employees the right to view the film at any time?

Plus most plaster their footage over the Internet even if no problems

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Exactly.

Footage gets everywhere these days.

'Look at this mug servicing my car' on youtube. Bet something would come up if you searched that actually..

Exactly why every time I do one with a dashcam its unplugged until I turn car on for test drive

Everyone seems to get all caught up about their car going over 2500rpm

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This is a dashcam pointing out the front of my car windscreen, it is in no way monitoring people carrying out their duties unless they are working within its view.

It is not a roving cam mounted on someone's shoulder following them under my car or in the boot.

I'm asking "do they have the right" to disconnect my in car equipment?

And this is very much to do with having my car test driven, my dashcam would not even by able to see the driver.

And yes I very much do have an issue with some plonker taking my car on a jolly!

I didn't spend £30k on a car that I meticulously look after, for some one to rag its wheels off!

Witnessed the garage chap hit a dammed curb right outside the dealership when he was trying to reverse it and park outside the reception!

Luckily he did not damage it.

If I was test driving any vehicle I do not see why I would want to disconnect the dashcam unless I was up to no good.

I would prefer to have it on to prove that if an incident occurred could prove my driving!

Still recording in the workshop n what not, obv when the bonnet isnt up.

Id of thought its at their discretion whether they unplug it or not

My Skoda dealer fits head mounted cameras to all of their technicians.

 

The customer then gets a link so that they can watch their car being worked on from their desk at work or sofa at home.

 

The management knows their guys will be following the rules and their training, the customer gets reassurance that their car is being properly looked after.

 

Once the work is complete and the car parked up outside the camera turns off.

 

The dealer has nothing to hide, the customer has nothing to uncover.

My only and last ever brand new car was my 2011 Octy vRS and it's first service in a Skoda main dealers with dash cam hard wired in showed the test drive....... Red lining my diesel from cold to do 100 in a 50 zone then on a separate run from near stand still 103 in a 30 zone (those were the peak speeds, generally sped around in it at all times). Later having got back to the dealer and deciding to do another lap in it he noticed camera and swore. Was a very good boy from that point and drove it at the speed limit back to the front of the dealership where he parked it where I would later find it. 

I've been screwed over before by a customers dashcam after a specific customer request so nobody gets anything done by me anymore, all driving is legal

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TBH I'm not interested in what they are doing workwise, under the bonnet or where ever they need to go around the car, it is when you get your car back with 7 miles on the clock and the dashcam has been disconnected IMHO the test driver is up to no good.

Similar happened the week before with about 5 miles on the clock and dashcam disconnected.

Previously my Fiesta ST went into a body shop for a bumper to be resprayed and came back with nearly 3 miles on the clock and they had pulled the dashcam too...the car park/bodyshop were all in less than a 100m in total.

I have absolutely no issue with a mechanic driving my car in the correct fashion on a test drive and they should have no problem with my dashcam if they are respecting my vehicle.

I do have an issue with mechanics that are not mechanically conscious whilst driving other people's cars. My car does not go over certain revs until the oil registers 50deg etc..part of reason I went DSG was to avoid thrashing to the redline.

Once a customer asked me to test their vehicle as there was a problem at said speed (illegal) no where local to take it so I used a road, informed them there was no problem and serviced vehicle, came back to bite me on ass as I was reported to boss who thankfully took up my side as well as police.

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This is a dashcam pointing out the front of my car windscreen, it is in no way monitoring people carrying out their duties unless they are working within its view.

It is not a roving cam mounted on someone's shoulder following them under my car or in the boot. 

THEREFORE IT IS FILMING INSIDE PRIVATE PREMISES! DO YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE SITE OWNER TO FILM THERE? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT IS POINTING. DO YOU ALSO HAVE THE PERMISSION OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE FILMED WALKING PAST YOUR CAR?

I'm asking "do they have the right" to disconnect my in car equipment?

YES, UNLESS THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU PERMISSION TO FILM IN THEIR PREMISES, AS HAVE ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

 

As annoying as it is they are well within their rights to disconnect the dashcam (or ask you to unplug it) if they don't wish to be filmed.

This is a dashcam pointing out the front of my car windscreen, it is in no way monitoring people carrying out their duties unless they are working within its view.

It is not a roving cam mounted on someone's shoulder following them under my car or in the boot.

THEREFORE IT IS FILMING INSIDE PRIVATE PREMISES! DO YOU HAVE PERMISSION FROM THE SITE OWNER TO FILM THERE? IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT IS POINTING. DO YOU ALSO HAVE THE PERMISSION OF ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE FILMED WALKING PAST YOUR CAR?

I'm asking "do they have the right" to disconnect my in car equipment?

YES, UNLESS THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU PERMISSION TO FILM IN THEIR PREMISES, AS HAVE ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.

You could highlight the same when entering a dealership who operate cctv, Graham. Do they have your permission? Do they have your written consent? If you request they turn off their cctv when you are on their premises, do you think they will comply?

What about when you enter a shop, airport, bus station? I noticed on a recent holiday that Easyjet had installed cctv on the plane I was flying on, I don't recall being asked to give my consent to being filmed, nor did I recall any notices on the plane advertising the fact they were operating cctv on board.

You could highlight the same when entering a dealership who operate cctv, Graham. Do they have your permission? Do they have your written consent? If you request they turn off their cctv when you are on their premises, do you think they will comply?

What about when you enter a shop, airport, bus station? I noticed on a recent holiday that Easyjet had installed cctv on the plane I was flying on, I don't recall being asked to give my consent to being filmed, nor did I recall any notices on the plane advertising the fact they were operating cctv on board.

Apart from they own their premises, and you dont.

You can film in your own house if you so wish..

Apart from they own their premises, and you dont.

You can film in your own house if you so wish..

And they're registered with the DPA...

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My Skoda dealer fits head mounted cameras to all of their technicians.

 

The customer then gets a link so that they can watch their car being worked on from their desk at work or sofa at home.

 

The management knows their guys will be following the rules and their training, the customer gets reassurance that their car is being properly looked after.

 

Once the work is complete and the car parked up outside the camera turns off.

 

The dealer has nothing to hide, the customer has nothing to uncover.

I hope the tech remembers to remove the head cam before he goes for a pee otherwise the customer at home sitting on their sofa drinking tea watching their car getting serviced could be in for a shock! 

You could highlight the same when entering a dealership who operate cctv, Graham. Do they have your permission? Do they have your written consent? If you request they turn off their cctv when you are on their premises, do you think they will comply?

What about when you enter a shop, airport, bus station? I noticed on a recent holiday that Easyjet had installed cctv on the plane I was flying on, I don't recall being asked to give my consent to being filmed.

 

I understand where you are coming from as I am sure Llanigraham does too, but what he highlighted is actually the way the law works on this matter technically. It's not something that can really be debated on here, more a parliament matter than a Brisky one. There are a handful of different pieces of legislation which cover this rather comprehensively and that is just how it is.

 

My view on the matter is that I would simply not give my business to a place which was unwilling for my cameras to be in use when the engine is running. Of course that requires my notification of their existence. I am one of those people who doesn't like anyone else driving his cars and it's not an uncommon thing. As for the original question, as the customer and owner of vehicle and equipment, you legally do not have the right to record video and or audio in their premises without their consent essentially. As for them to then physically disconnect the camera, if it had no direct bearing on their work, they arguably IMO should have simply stopped and addressed the matter with you giving you the options of what they are or are not prepared to accept. I say that as it opens them up to someone being able to say you broke my camera etc etc. Odds are in any franchised dealers, they would be advised if they sought legal advice on what their policy should be to not allow it under any circumstances for the pointless extra liability risk on their side.