I consider riding with video cameras as only an option, not a necessity. If one is having constant issues with motorists, then one or more should be considered. I use my two cameras for information gathering only, and in reviewing my videos, I was better able to select a lane position that suited certain sections of roadway along my commute, lessening the number of my incidents with motorists. Over the years, when an incident occurs between a motorist and myself it usually happens very quickly, and with my addition of cameras, speed is no longer a motorist's ally, with the number of aggressive motorists that I would normally let go, due lack of information, dropping considerably.

My main use for riding with cameras is to archive all the infrastructure/building changes that have happened since I installed them on my bike.
Reporting/logging aggressive/careless motorists= 10%
Chronicling interesting changes on my commutes=90%

This legal factoid about the admissibility of video "evidence" has been mentioned in more than one thread. Does anyone have any evidence that any cyclist produced video has ever been used/"accepted" as evidence to convict any motorist in any court, especially in a criminal proceeding?

your question has been answered already - http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post14785949

i'll add this - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDBFF34706CAEEDFC

My worst fear! Glad you survived.

I try to have bright lights front and rear, flashing too.

Okay, gonna make me do some homework huh..

Well it's not the State House, but it's a credible site. http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-gui...-recording-law

In addition, Georgia has a special provision regarding the use of a hidden video camera. The law makes it a crime to use a device to "observe, photograph, or record the activities of another which occur in any "private place and out of the public view" unless the person making the recording gets the consent of all the persons observed.

Although I didn't find anything specific, I think that this just limits private recording. I read through countless sites and tried to find out for sure. The only thing I was able to find out (albeit loosely) was video recorded in public falls outside the consent laws. It seems video evidence can be used if the video itself is authenticated by whoever it is that authenticates whatever.

But you bring up a good point. All the technology in the world won't help you if it is in fact, inadmissible.

Here's some interesting reading though http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/te...ents.html?_r=0

So there is one cyclist... police used video he recorded to prosecute the person who fled the scene of the accident...

Thanks for pointing out your previous response. Here is mine:

OK got it, you used your camera to take pictures of motorists' traffic violations that didn't affect you or any other cyclist. And at least one motorist in NZ had to pay for a ticket. Hardly seems like a rationale for cyclists to arm themselves with a camera for their own legal protection.

IMO your examples don't really answer the question about these cyclist videos being used to help out a cyclist involved in any accident related legal proceedings. Especially not answering the question as far as US courts/legal proceedings.

Correct, one case where the recording of a license plate by video camera helped identify a hit and run motorist so that charges could be brought. Remains to be seen if the charges will stick without further corroborating evidence

BTW I was not asking about the legality of taking the pictures/video, just the likely practical use of these recordings in any legal proceedings that will benefit the cyclist videographer.

US and NZ legal systems are both derived from british common law. they're not that different.

if you prefer, you can see how far you get with "your word against theirs". i think we all know how far that goes.

ILTB - are you looking for court cases? or prosecutions? i can only talk first-hand about one court case (since one of the charges was contested), but my cameras have secured quite a few uncontested prosecutions... certainly more than any bicyclist's sworn testimony.

what part of "any" are you trying to wiggle out of by pointing out that i'm in NZ? as a practical matter, this works pretty much the same here as it would in any US traffic/criminal/civil court. it's not like NZ relies on sharia law or "the wheel" to dispense justice. if i was still in the states i'd be playing the game the same way, with the same results.

let's also look at this, which was a criminal conviction - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-16726406

and in the US, the very recent case James Ernst (recently charged with harassment (x2), impeding the flow of traffic and improper use of horn) - http://denver.cbslocal.com/2012/09/1...sing-cyclists/
harassment isn't a traffic offence, although i don't know for sure if it's "criminal" in CO.

if you're having a hard time finding cases that went to trial, it's probably because the video is so damning that there's not much point in fighting it. only about 1% of speeding tickets are contested in court, and those generally aren't supported by video. video is a game changer.

how far do you think any of those cases would have gotten without video?

but like i said... if you prefer to rely on your "good word" to convince anyone to file or pursue a prosecution, go right ahead. i find video to be much more effective.

Again, the cams offer a tool. A TOOL and that is it. Use it or not, its up to you all as individuals.

I look at it like having a cam gives me an extra tool. For example, in S. Jersey and Philly, we have the highest hit and run rates in the US. Cause for concern? Depends on how you look at it. I would rather have that extra tool if it helps me and my family.

End of day, a cam recording is much better then "he said she said" sorta thing.

Glad you're ok. I was just thinking about getting a gopro cam and mount behind the seat for after event surveillance.

My apologies to the OP, didn't mean to marginalize your incident and help to take this thread into a different direction. I simply think that incidents just like this are themselves a good argument for having cameras on bikes.

Hope you're feeling better!

No worries, I pretty much summed up myself in my second post. Currently researching entry level hardtails. I need something that can go from street to sidewalk or shoulder in an instant and not miss a beat. I'm about to get all Road Warrior up in this bee-yotch! :)

Don't forget about adding that mirror that you were writing about that you should of had. One of my most recent near miss incidents was with a motorist traveling at 60 feet per second faster than I was currently traveling at.

New helmet has been ordered- Giro Feature, also Take-A-Look mirror (Original version), and some new SPD shoes and pedals- just to treat myself. Oh yeah, and I bought a reflective safety vest yesterday in green.

Great on the mirror. Very nice. Here is an article and video on it if you want to read up a little on your new mirror: Click Here

i do alittle bit of filming while on my bike i got a motorized bicycle and a 7 speed avalon comfort bike i use for touring. But the best place i found to stick my video cam is on my helmet. If you got the helmet with the breathing holes in it get a flexible tripod off ebay for about 4 to 5 dollars screw it in the bottom of the cam and zip tie the flexible tripod to your helmet. http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqUOKi0..._id=89040003C1And there you go and if a little loose around the head add a little glue or black tape it will hold any micro video cam like gopro kodak any of them with the place to put on a tripod sounds weird but it works great

Do you have that on your helmet? Can you post a pic of it?

here is the one i got it is taped to my helmet but here is a pichttp://i1.ytimg.com/vi/haDzc5toqoE/2...=1349035334998 here is the video i did last year on my motorized bicycle explaining the helmet mine was taped on at the time holding a flip mino http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haDzc5toqoE

On more thing to silmarillion - I had it on my Ducati motorcycle for many thousands of miles. More vibration for sure, but not as much sharp impact or jarring as on a bicycle.

I run dual cameras. I started when I realized that without the rear-facing context, if I were to be hit at certain times it would look like it was my fault even though with the context of what was going on behind me I was actually doing what I could to avoid an accident.

There are time when I'm reviewing my rear cam videos, that I wish I hadn't seen what really went on.

Please explain...just a close pass?

I definitely recommend a mirror. I have a helmet mounted mirror. Once I got used to it, I've really enjoyed having near 360 degree vision.

Pretty much, the one that bothered me the most was the close pass,(their mirror going over the top of my bar end mirror) by a motorist in a vehicle that had an extremely mangled right front fender and bumper from a major collision sometime in the motorist's past, something I missed until I reviewed the video of the incident.