Legal Considerations for School Bus Cameras

Time and Date Stamp
This is a minimum requirement that, if not met, will likely cause the Private Contractor Charter Bus Camera video files evidence to not be admissible as there is no way to prove when the video was taken.
Plus it reflects poorly on the district staff and management that they spend considerable tax funds on a product just to meet compliance and then never properly program or exercise proper stewardship of the product of tax dollar funding in effect squandering the tax dollars spent on the system.

Vehicle ID#
This is a minimum requirement that, if not met, will likely cause the Special Needs Wheelchair Bus Camera video files evidence to not be admissible as there is no way to prove what vehicle the video files were recorded in.
Again it reflects poorly on the district staff and management that they spend considerable tax funds on a product just to meet compliance and then never properly program or exercise proper stewardship of the product of tax dollar funding in effect squandering the tax dollars spent on the system.


Encryption to Prevent Tampering 
While some may find the added video file requirements for using encrypted files annoying, there is a reason.
The added steps in school bus camera file security protect the video files' integrity and limit the ability of others to view the files, which is important to prevent perverts from accessing the video files of other people's children who are recorded on school buses.

Chain of Custody
This is a concern usually reserved for Police Prisoner Transport camera systems that provide video file evidence of Corrections Tactical Operations High Risk/Value/Profile Inmate transport Video Camera systems that require much more liability documentation than others due to their higher profile nature.
Typically "chain of custody" is the means to verify that only authorized staff members have access to the video files.

School bus camera system "chain of custody" involves making sure only the staff members have the keys to School Bus Camera DVRs, so the access to the video file evidence is documented and limited.
While in some very small districts, the Transportation Directors must, on occasion, drive the buses, this creates a conflict within the "chain of custody" as the person who holds the keys to the School Bus Camera DVRs is now driving the bus it provides video file evidence within.
Should something bad occur on that bus, and the authorities get a warrant to retrieve the video file evidence from the DVR, if it is not there, the driver, aka Transportation Director, immediately becomes the Primary Suspect. Judges are not happy when they believe their video file evidence has been tampered with or taken.
For example, in Non-Emergency Medical Transport Camera systems the vehicle may be transporting a heart, organs, or other high-value medical items and they need to verify that the driver did not have any interaction with any of the items being transported and they were stored properly throughout the transport.

Another common example of a problem with "chain of custody" is Elderly Day Care Transport Video Camera systems as, again, the owners of the smaller systems may often be forced to drive the vehicles on their own, thus breaking the "chain of custody" and causing conflicts of interest if anything should happen in a vehicle they were operating.


Maintain Original Memory Source for Forensics 
While many think making copies in alternate movie file types is a good idea to help third parties view the files easier, this causes another concern.

Student Transportation Bus Camera systems sold by American Bus Video Inc. are encrypted, so the file is overwritten with multiple watermarks, so the veracity of the video file integrity can be proven in court when needed. This makes the process of viewing the files (run as an administrator) more complex, bus this is the only way to ensure the encryption is not damaged in some way. When investing in Low Cost School Bus Video Cameras and Low Price School Bus Video Surveillance Camera systems, it is essential to remember the object of the exercise to gain legal protection if needed in court.
The video players we provide have optional means to export video clips in common third-party file types like "AVI" and "MP4", but understand the exported common video file type is not the original encryption-protected file and is subject to tampering.

Any incident that will potentially end up in court requires the original memory device to be immediately locked so it cannot be overwritten. To "Lock" the SD card, there is a sliding tab on the left side; move the tab to the "locked" position. Regardless of the application for the Low Price Vehicle Surveillance Camera, the legal minimum requirements for evidence remain the same.

The court has the right to require the "Original Video File Storage Device" for examination and forensic review, depending on the case and the discretion of the judge. It is best to always keep any digital video evidence that may end up in court for 7 years when most statute of limitations expires for charging and litigation.
Proper storage would include a Faraday cage to protect from EMP damage because, as Hannibal Smith of the A-Team so aptly put it, "Overkill is Underrated."





Video Masking
As it relates to School Bus Cameras & Paratransit Camera systems "Video Masking" a technical means or mechanism to render those not involved in the captured incident to be rendered non-viewable or unrecognizable in the playback video. It is important to do this in a way that does not damage the original video recording on the original memory source.

The option of video masking or blurring the faces of non-involved persons is a must-have, as in some states, it may be a crime to record and display other people's underage children in any venue.



Stand-A-Lone Systems 
While our system software is currently running on about 95% of our customer's PCs, we understand some may not permit it.
Some applications require a separate video file viewing PC as the software is written in China, and some government networks do not permit China software to be running or accessing their network files due to Network Security concerns.
Applications like the US Army, Air Force, DoS, DHS, Border Patrol, and many, many municipal police and school districts may also need to set up a system outside of their network for video file viewing.
A PC that is not tied into the network, or isolated so there is no sharing of access may be required.



Sharing Video File Clips
In general, it is a bad idea to share video file clips with those outside the school district staff and management.
The reason for this is that video files contain audio tracks as well as video tracts.

Imagine if you will, an incident where Tommy is choking Johnny, you suspended him for a day from school, and you send a copy to the parents to prove their little angel was having a bad day. Then their parent's attorney contacts the district threatening a lawsuit against the school for the driver's assault and threats of violence against their child.
Passion is a virtue if the time is right or the cause is just, but when a driver is doing their best to drive a vehicle in the rain with 60+ children's lives in his hands, that driver's passion can sometimes cause unintended consequences when the driver lost his cool yelled at and threatens both children with a "butt whooping".

Then the reasoning on Screenshots only makes sense.
The only reason for sharing a video clip with audio outside the district staff would be with a court order.




Trust Bus Verify
When Renaldus Maximus aptly stated, "Trust but verify," he was referring to the USSR's compliance with Nuclear Arms Treaty with the USA. The same level of faith in performance, backed up by periodic testing, is required to verify full functionality in all of the below applications:

School Bus Camera systems are often incorporated to verify or dispute behavioral complaints made about students or drivers on school buses.

Waste Collection Recycling Video Camera Surveillance Systems are commonly used to verify or dispute pickups or collection times of their service waste collection recycling collection vehicles.

Paratransit Driver Safety Video Camera Surveillance System use can be to ensure the safe transport of passengers and the sequential recording of the events and actions of those transporting paratransit patients.

Forklift HD Industrial Operator Safety Camera System products help ensure if there is an occupational employee-related accident with a forklift, that the event or incident can be reviewed to hopefully provide a training opportunity for future operators so they can learn from that mistake.

School Bus Stop Arm Camera Systems are used to record passing violations of vehicles when buses are loading or unloading children.

Elderly Day Care Shuttle & Assisted Living Transportation Vehicle Video Camera can assist the management staff in resolving claims made by patients about their transport in vehicles used for daycare activities and medical visits by assisted living providers.

5th Wheel King Pin Trailer CS1 Spotter Yard Mule Camera can help ensure the trailers have a good lock before they are pulled around yards and potentially roll over.

Casino Customer Shuttle Bus Video Surveillance Safety Cameras are important to help manage the risk associated with passengers who are often drunk and belligerent on their trips home from the casinos.

Private Contractor Student Transport Camera systems can verify or dispute behavioral complaints made about students or drivers on private chartered school buses.

Bus Seat Cover Vandalism Camera Surveillance systems are a way to catch those damaging the seats on a school bus and help reduce future damage.

Armored Vehicle VIP Transport Video Camera Systems can provide the details necessary when events occur that are often lost in the confusion of high-stress transport incidents.

Alternative School & Juvenile Detention Bus Security Camera help ensure those children with a history of aggression or behavioral issues can be monitored and documented during their transports.

Cannabis Transport Vehicle Camera Recorder is used in the transport of drug materials as well as the cash they collect from sales to the few banks cable of business with cannabis growers and sellers in those states where it is lawful.

Transportation Ministry Youth Activities Church Bus Camera System offer those church-related youth activity transport vehicles a way to verify the behavior and actions of those on those vehicles in case of claims made against them.

Before & After Care School, Child Day Care Pickup In-vehicle Shuttle Safety Camera system usage should also include in the program a parent's notification waiver of privacy for their young children acknowledging they are aware the cameras are in use for their children's safety and security. In cases where the children are too young go understand what the Surveillance Notification decals placed under the front cameras mean, it is necessary o make their parents aware of this.

Head Start Pre-K Pre-School Nursery School Child Safety Bus Camera Recorder system usage should also include in the program a parent's notification waiver of privacy for their young children acknowledging they are aware the cameras are in use for their children's safety and security. In cases where the children are too young go understand what the Surveillance Notification decals placed under the front cameras mean, it is necessary to make their parents aware of this. Those seeking Low Price Vehicle Surveillance Camera systems need to ensure e they program them with Time, date, and vehicle ID# and turn audio on if they want it recorded.




School Bus Camera System function verification suggested by ABV Inc.

Daily driver DVR LED status verification;
Daily driver cameras check that none have been vandalized, such that they are hanging down where they might strike a child's head.

Weekly monitor in bus verification;
DVR is storing new files; all cameras are recording, there are no blue screens with "Video Loss" indication a camera is not working, and the files can be viewed and played back from the DVR to the LCD setup monitor.

Annual service recommended include;
Reformatting all SDXC memory cards on the DVR.
Checking all DVRs for Time/Date/Vehicle ID#
Cleaning all camera lenses

Should you have any questions, concerns, or require more information about Testudo Lifetime System Warranty Bus Camera Systems, various applications, or the Industrial Grade Charter Student Transportation Service Bus Cameras, we encourage you to let us know, and we will be happy to offer our 35+ years of market experience in sales and service of digital recording devices to respond to your concerns or questions.