One of my blogs last weekend included dash-cam footage of a reckless driver blowing through a stop sign in the wrong lane in Burnaby.
You can read about that case here, but let me assure you it was pretty terrible.
The NOW reader who submitted the footage then asked me an interesting question. He wondered if he could send this footage to Burnaby RCMP so they could pursue a possible charge or perhaps just a ticket.
So, I asked the Burnaby RCMP this question.
“The short answer is, yes, the police can use dash-cam footage to assist with issuing violation tickets with some very specific requirements,” said Cpl Michael Kalanj. If a member of the public has dash-cam footage of a driving offence, they need to contact police directly, deliver the video and provide a witness statement (audio recorded).”
The usual questions would have to be answered in regards to what they witnessed. You know, who, what, when, where, etc – hey, just like a journalist. “They would also have to explain who had access to the video and confirm its continuity,” Kalanj said. “Like any investigation, the police can rely on the witness for all the evidence and issue a ticket, however, if the person decides to fight the ticket, the witness would need to attend and give their evidence in traffic court.”
So, there you have it. If you have a dash cam, keep that in mind the next time you see such bad behaviour.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
