Can those cameras in police cars be turned off?

Question

It's for research and I'm too shy to go down to the local police station and ask.
:)

So... you know those camera's that law enforcement patrol cars have now? The ones that sit on the dash board and record the police officer when he approaches a vehicle?

Are those turned on/off by the police officer... or do they automatically start recording when the patrol car is turned on?

Can you explain to me how those cameras work?

Thanks...
T.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful answers...

:)
I'm in research mode, so this has helped greatly...

Best Wishes...
T.

Answer 1

Most systems can be turned on either by the officer or are automatically activated when the emergency lights are turned on.

The newer systems are digital and computerized. They include audio recording as well.

The are numerous systems on the market with some being more expensive than others....of course!

Most systems are locked where the tapes cannot be removed or altered without a supervisors presence.

The below listed weblink is one example of the system!

Best wishes!

Answer 2

They are controlled by the switch operating the emergency lights. when you pull someone over you activate the red/blue or just the blue lights to get their attention, this activates the camera, if the officer leaves the lights on during the stop, the camera continues to roll. and turns off when the overhead lights are turned off.
Same with going code, if you are responding to an emergency with your lights and siren on, the camera is on. it turns off the same way, when you shut off the overhead lights.
The camera also records on a loop of about 3 seconds continuously when the car is in motion in case of an accident involving the patrol car, this will give the investigators a 3 second or less view of what happened.

Answer 3

It depends of what and how the equipment is installed...Some work with the lights and siren, so if a officer pulls you over, he/she has to turn on his lights, then the video camera come on,
Some are turn on by the officer even if his/her lights are not on.
And some is on at all times. but it takes a big hard drive in the truck and when the hard drive gets full, it starts to erase the hard drive and copy over the orignal video.