The short answer is: yes, it is possible for dash cam footage to be used as evidence against you.

However, there’s often more to it than that. In this article, we’ll look at how and when dash cam footage might be used and when it might be challenged.

If you have been accused of a road traffic offence, and dash cam footage is being used as evidence, it is important to seek legal advice and discuss this with your defence solicitor so that your rights are protected.

Dash cams and road traffic offences

Dash cams are small video cameras, usually mounted on the windscreen of a vehicle. They are designed to record footage of whatever is happening in front of the vehicle, with some systems also including a rear-view camera to capture footage behind as well.

Recorded footage is stored in a memory card, though some modern systems also upload backups to cloud-based storage. This can then be sent to the police and insurance companies to, in theory, show the events surrounding a road traffic incident and the commission of any offences.

Dash cam footage can provide useful evidence for various kinds of motoring offence including:

  • Dangerous driving
  • Careless driving
  • Speeding
  • Collisions with other vehicles or property
  • Driving through a red light
  • Using a mobile phone whilst driving
  • The use of alcohol or drugs whilst driving

Dash cam footage submitted to the police

There is a National Dash Cam Safety Portal which enables members of the public to share dash cam footage with relevant police forces. As a part of this process, the person submitting the footage must also make a statement as to whether they would be willing to give evidence alongside the footage in any criminal proceedings.

More and more submissions of dash cam footage are being made every day. In 2024, a Freedom of Information request by This is Money revealed that there were 176,000 submissions of dash cam footage to the police over a 3-year period. And, over a 2-year period, submissions increased by 77%.

Can my own dash cam footage be used as evidence against me?

Yes, it is possible for footage taken from a dash cam in your vehicle to be used against you. If the police believe you have committed an offence, they can pull you over and request your dash cam footage.

Even footage you have submitted to the police to provide evidence against another road user could support charges against you, depending on what it shows.

It should be noted that sharing your dash cam footage on social media holds similar legal risks – alongside others. It could cause legal issues over data protection for anyone who is shown in the footage, and could prejudice any ongoing prosecutions if you have also submitted it to the police.

What procedure must the police follow?

If the police are intending to prosecute you for an alleged offence, they must notify you – as the registered owner of the vehicle – within 14 days of the alleged offence occurring. This will take the form of a Notice of Intended Prosecution.

If you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution, you are legally required to respond to it. And it is important to get legal advice as soon as possible after receiving the notice. You may be required to identify the driver of the vehicle at the time of the alleged offence, and failing to respond, or responding incorrectly, can result in additional penalties (such as licence points and a fine).

When might dash cam footage be challenged?

Not all dash cam footage will be valid evidence. There are some circumstances where it will be of insufficient strength to prove facts against you, and your defence solicitor can make this clear to the court. For example, dash cam footage may be lacking if:

  • It doesn’t clearly show the number plate of the vehicle (although it is important to note that it doesn’t have to show the driver to be valid)
  • It doesn’t clearly show the alleged offence taking place. For example, the footage may cut off too soon, or inadequately show the lead up to the alleged offence. Similarly, it may not show the incident itself, if it occurs outside of the camera(s) field of view, for instance.
  • It is poor quality footage. Blurry or unclear footage may not be of sufficient quality to show the offence or necessary details.
  • It has been edited. Due to rules surrounding video evidence, even seemingly minor edits to the footage – such as trimming the length of the video, or adjusting its colour or brightness – can render the footage inadmissible. The person who has submitted the evidence must have preserved an unedited version of the footage and be able to supply it on request. If they cannot, it may be ruled inadmissible.
  • It doesn’t have timestamps or GPS data. Although these requirements are not critical to dash cam footage being admissible as evidence, a lack of timestamps or GPS data can make footage harder to authenticate and may open up possibilities to challenge its validity.

Getting advice on your rights

If you are worried you may face charges over an alleged road traffic offence, or you have received a Notice of Intended Prosecution, Ison Harrison can provide legal support.

Whether this is advising you on your legal rights, or defending you in court, our expert criminal lawyers are on hand when you need help the most.

To discuss your situation with us, please just get in touch.