Winnipeg cops say more dashcams mean more investigative tools

Winnipeg police say they’re seeing more dashboard cameras in vehicles all over the city, and the gadgets can be a boon to investigations.

Patrol Sgt. Brian Neumann told 680 CJOB’s The Start that it’s typical to see dashcams in commercial vehicles, but traffic officers have noticed a shift with more people using them on their daily commutes.

“Often the public hears us request that they check their surveillance images,” Neumann said.

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“Dash cameras aren’t the only things that are out there — intersection traffic monitoring cameras, closed circuit television — but the dash cameras are what we have a lot of interest in, because they’re actually recording what the driver could see. Not just what that driver could see, but the actions and what other drivers could possibly see.”

0:47 More cameras in downtown Winnipeg

The video, and sometimes audio as well, can provide an unbiased account of what happened during a collision, a hit and run, or another crime.

While the increased number of dashcams means police — and insurance adjusters — can get a clear picture of what happens in a collision, Neumann said the presence of more dashcams hasn’t necessarily led to Winnipeggers becoming better drivers in general.

“The more cameras, the more you see … the more you’re shocked by the manner in which some people drive,” he said.

“By and large, I don’t think people are really thinking about whether they’re being recorded when they’re driving, because if they did, they probably wouldn’t do what they do.”

1:02 Manitoba semi driver dashcam records road rage