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Could your vehicle’s black box hurt you in court?

On Behalf of | Nov 1, 2019 | motor vehicle accidents | 0 comments

The technology in vehicles today is pretty interesting. Cars today can do things that would shock people who drove the first cars ever made. As technology has advanced it has had an impact on the technology in vehicles. A great example is the advanced computer system that acts as the brain of your vehicle. Your car probably has a black box. This records almost every action you take when behind the wheel. It creates a record that Pennsylvania law enforcement could use against you in court.

Forbes explains that the black box in your car is much like that of the black box in an airplane. It tracks every move you make from putting on your seatbelt to pressing the brakes to using your turning signal. This record remains in the box and is accessible after an accident. This is important for you to understand because the black box could back up your account of what happened in an accident or it could tell a different story.

This is a new issue because even though these black box recorders have been in vehicles since the 1990s, it is only recently, though, that law enforcement discovered they make good evidence in court. However, there is a concern about its use by law enforcement. It is unclear if they need a warrant to gather the information. Courts seem divided on the issue. However, the general consensus is officers should get a warrant if they want to use the information from your black box in court. This information is for education and is not legal advice.