If you are arrested in Orlando, a camera may be your best friend. They can act as an extra eyewitness when a judge or jury is needed to review a case. Although Orlando Police Department does not currently have cameras in their vehicles, IRIS and jail cameras may also help you beat a DUI charge.

Throughout Orlando, residents and officials are demanding in police car cameras to protect both innocent citizens and officers. These cameras were first introduced in the 1990′s as a response to community concerns about racial profiling. At the beginning of 2011, less than 1% of Orange County Sheriff’s department had these cameras in their car. The Orlando police department, however, had none.

Cameras mounted in police cars are extremely useful in DUI cases. They can help show if a traffic stop was unlawful, and they can also give the court documentation of the field sobriety test. Although the camera cannot replace a blood or breath test, when used by a lawyer, the evidence it provides could possibly lead to a case dismissal. 

Another use of an in police car camera is to document whether or not a refusal to test occurred. In Orlando, refusing to take a blood, breath, or urine test could hurt a DUI case. A camera might be able to show when a refusal was misinterpreted by the officer.  Even if a driver is found guilty of DUI, removing a charge of refusal may lessen the penalties.

The Orlando Police Department has said that they simply cannot afford in police car cameras, but they are putting many innocent drivers and officers at risk by not doing so. Cameras are able to monitor the activities that happen while officers are patrolling the streets. Cameras prevent police misconduct because they provide a video record to public. They also protect officers from violence because criminals can see that their actions are being recorded. In DUI cases, they can be the link between what an officer interprets and what actually is.

Around Florida, taxi cabs and the neighboring city of Kissimmee Police Department have recognized the usefulness and safety of in car video cameras. Orlando, however,  has not made this step. Even though it cannot be debated whether or not the Orlando Police Department can afford these cameras, the community is asking for at least a few to be installed in some of the vehicles.

Although it may be a while before Orlando police vehicles have cameras installed, IRIS cameras around the city may also be helpful to a DUI case. These cameras are mounted on city streets and  monitored 24 hours a day. A monitoring station watches the cameras for suspicious activity, and some officers are able to access the cameras from their cars. If a driver is stopped under a suspected DUI in view of one of these cameras, that information may be useful to the case. If the video can show no reason to stop the driver, a lawyer may be able to argue that it was an unlawful traffic stop. There are approximately 100 IRIS cameras in Orlando.

Even in jail, cameras might be helpful. If an officer is insisting that a driver is impaired, and the driver is not, behavior while at the jail may help prove that. Cameras in the jail will be able to show how a recently detained driver is behaving. If the driver does not appear to be under the influence up to an hour after being pulled over, it may be argued that the driver was not impaired in the first place.

If you are stopped for a DUI in Orlando, know that you may be on camera. Whether it is an IRIS camera, or an Orange County Sheriff’s Department car camera, they may ultimately help prove your innocence. If the officer that stopped you did not have a camera, there will also be some at jail. Your DUI does not have to be based on the interpretation of one officer.