Police Use Corvette’s Onboard Video, GPS Data Against Speeding Arizona Driver
A Corvette Z06 driver tore through downtown Tempe, Arizona, doing 140 mph in a 35 mph zone. When he sped through town again the next day, police were ready. Officers used a grappling device to lock up the car’s rear tire and arrest the driver. After impounding the Corvette, they published onboard video and GPS data the car recorded. Will this data be used against the driver in court? And what precedent will this set with our increasingly connected cars?
See the incriminating footage in the video below, and read on to find out how much of your driving, your car records.
What does your car record—and when can police access your data?
Drivers may be relieved to know that not every GM vehicle records this data. Since the 2015 model year, certain performance vehicles have come with a Performance Data Recorder device. Drivers can switch it on to record video data, audio data via an in-cabin microphone, and telemetry data such as speed. It’s advertised as a way to record laps on a racetrack and analyze your performance to improve your driving. It can record all this data on its designated SD card.
What GM cars have a PDR recorder standard? It’s standard on the C8 Corvette and top-trim Camaros (2017 and later ZL1 and 1LE), as well as Cadillac models such as the CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing. But it’s been an option available on multiple models since 2015. This includes the C7 Corvette, as well as the Cadillac ATS-V and CTS-V.
If police impound one of these cars for speeding, they can search the vehicle for evidence to support the charges. This means that data recorded and stored in the vehicle will be fair game.
But what if police don’t impound the vehicle? Police can also subpoena the GPS data automakers keep on your driving habits. In fact, U.S. senators asked the FTC to investigate eight car companies’ practice of handing over driving data to police departments that don’t have a search warrant—despite having “deceptively pledged that they would insist on warrants.” The companies they listed are BMW, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen (PCMag).
General Motors was recently caught selling driving data to insurance companies, which in turn used the data as evidence to increase premiums. GM has promised to stop selling driving data to insurance companies but reserves the right to sell it elsewhere, such as to advertisers.