How Long Do Police Keep Dash Cam Footage?
What’s in This Article
- How Police Dash Cam Footage Retention Policies Work
- Common Police Dash Cam Footage Retention Periods
- What Affects How Long Police Keep Dash Cam Footage
- Why You Should Act Quickly to Preserve Footage
- Steps to Request Dash Cam Footage After an Incident
- Legal Rights to Access Dash Cam Footage
- Footage Retention for Different Incident Types
- Myths and Facts About Dash Cam Footage Retention
- The Importance of Legal Support in Securing Dash Cam Footage
Police dash cam footage can become key evidence after a crash, traffic stop, arrest, or use-of-force event. The problem is simple: agencies do not all keep that video for the same length of time. This guide explains how retention works, why rules vary, and what you can do to request or preserve footage before an agency deletes it under its records schedule.
Quick Answer
Police keep dash cam footage for different lengths of time based on state law, agency policy, and the type of incident. Some routine recordings may follow short agency schedules, while official state schedules can require 90 days, 180 days, 30 months, or longer. Footage tied to a criminal case, crash, arrest, use of force, complaint, or lawsuit usually gets longer protection. You should send a written preservation request as soon as possible.
Key Takeaways
- Police dash cam retention rules vary by state, department, and incident type.
- Routine recordings can follow much shorter schedules than footage tied to a case.
- Georgia lists 180 days for general law enforcement video and 30 months for several incident-related recordings.
- Illinois FOIA rules generally require a response within five business days, but exemptions and extensions may apply.
- A fast written preservation request gives you a better chance of protecting footage before deletion.
How Police Dash Cam Footage Retention Policies Work
Police dash cam footage retention policies tell agencies how long they must keep video recordings. State records laws, local retention schedules, department policies, storage limits, and litigation duties can all affect the timeline.
You should not assume every police department keeps footage for seven days, 30 days, or 90 days. For example, Georgia Archives lists 180 days for general law enforcement audio and video recordings. It lists 30 months when footage relates to a criminal investigation, vehicle accident, detainment, arrest, officer use of force, or likely litigation.
Washington State Archives gives a different example for dash cam recordings. Its guidance lists 90 days for some mobile-device recordings after the date of recording, unless another rule or case need requires longer retention. These examples show why you need the exact agency policy and state law for your incident.
Common Police Dash Cam Footage Retention Periods
Police departments often sort dash cam footage by category. Routine footage usually gets the shortest retention period. Video tied to a crash, arrest, complaint, use of force, criminal case, or lawsuit often gets longer protection.
- Routine or non-incident recordings may follow short local schedules.
- Incident-related recordings often trigger longer retention rules.
- Criminal case footage may stay in storage until the case ends.
- Footage needed for pending or expected litigation may stay until final resolution.
Georgia gives one clear official example. Its local government records schedule lists 180 days for general law enforcement video, 30 months for several incident-related categories, and retention until final adjudication for footage used in litigation.
Because each agency can follow its own approved schedule, you should request the department’s written retention policy. That policy can tell you how long the agency keeps routine footage and how it handles flagged evidence.
What Affects How Long Police Keep Dash Cam Footage
The purpose of the recording often drives the retention period. Agencies usually treat routine patrol footage differently from footage that shows a crash, arrest, search, complaint, injury, pursuit, or use of force.
State law can set a minimum timeline. Department policy can add more detail, such as how officers tag footage, who reviews requests, and when the system deletes old files.
Storage also matters. High-resolution video, long shifts, and large fleets create major storage demands. Even so, agencies must follow legal retention duties when a recording becomes evidence or relates to a valid request.
Public records rules can affect access, but they do not always guarantee release. Agencies may need to redact private information, protect an active investigation, or withhold exempt material under state law.
Why You Should Act Quickly to Preserve Footage
You should act quickly because you may not know which retention category applies at first. A recording that looks routine to an agency may matter a lot to your case, insurance claim, complaint, or defense.
A written preservation request tells the agency that you believe specific footage matters. It also creates a paper trail that shows when you asked the department to protect the recording.
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Short Retention Windows
Short retention windows can create a real risk. If an agency treats a recording as routine and no one flags it, the system may delete it under the agency’s normal schedule.
Warning: Send your preservation request quickly because the agency may delete unflagged footage before you finish a public records request.
- Important moments may disappear if no one flags the recording.
- A delay can make your request harder to prove.
- A clear written request can help protect your rights.
- Fast action can support a later legal or insurance claim.
Do not wait for a full legal dispute before you ask for preservation. Send the request as soon as you know the date, time, place, and agency involved.
Immediate Preservation Requests
An immediate preservation request should identify the footage with as much detail as you can provide. Include the incident date, time, location, officer name or badge number if known, patrol car number if known, and a short description of what happened.
You should send the request to the records unit, police chief, city attorney, county attorney, or other listed records custodian. If you face a criminal charge, civil claim, injury case, or serious complaint, consider asking a lawyer to send the request too.
A lawyer can also use formal tools such as subpoenas, discovery requests, or court motions when a case allows them. Those tools can matter when an agency refuses access, claims an exemption, or fails to protect evidence.
Steps to Request Dash Cam Footage After an Incident
To request dash cam footage after an incident, start with the basic facts. Then send a preservation request and a public records request to the correct agency. Follow up in writing so you can track each response.
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Gather Essential Incident Details
Gather details that help the agency find the correct recording. A vague request can slow the search or give the agency a reason to ask for more information.
- Date and time of the incident
- Street, intersection, highway, or landmark
- Police department or agency involved
- Officer name, badge number, or patrol car number if known
- Case number, citation number, or crash report number if available
- Vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers if known
- Names and contact details for witnesses
These details help the records unit search the right system. They also help the agency identify video from body cameras, dash cameras, booking areas, nearby patrol cars, or other sources.
Submit Preservation Requests Promptly
Submit a preservation request as soon as possible. You can also submit a public records request, but preservation and access do not serve the same purpose.
| Information Needed | Why It Matters | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Helps establish the timeline | Give the exact or closest time |
| Location | Helps identify the agency and unit | List streets, landmarks, or GPS details |
| Vehicle Descriptions | Helps locate the correct footage | Describe vehicles clearly |
Illinois State Police states that it has five business days to respond to FOIA requests, with a possible five-business-day extension when collection, review, and redaction need more time. Other states and local agencies may follow different response rules.
Follow Up on Requests
Follow up if the agency does not confirm receipt. Ask for the request number, the assigned records officer, and the expected response date.
- Ask whether the agency has preserved the footage.
- Ask whether the agency needs more details from you.
- Ask whether it claims any exemption or redaction rule.
- Ask how you can appeal or challenge a denial.
If litigation has started, an attorney can use formal legal requests to protect evidence. Your written follow-up can also help show that you acted quickly.
Legal Rights to Access Dash Cam Footage
Your legal right to access police dash cam footage depends on the agency, the state, the type of case, and the content of the video. Many police videos count as public records, but state law may allow redactions or temporary denials for privacy, safety, or active investigations.
Use the right law for the right agency. The federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies to federal agencies. State and local police departments usually process requests under state public records laws, though many people still use the term FOIA in a general way.
In Illinois, the Attorney General’s FOIA guide explains that law enforcement may assert FOIA exemptions for body-worn camera footage. A similar approach can apply to police video when a state law protects private information, investigation details, juvenile records, or victim information.
Submit your request to the records division, city clerk, county records custodian, or police department contact listed on the agency website. Keep copies of every email, letter, form, and response.
Footage Retention for Different Incident Types
Incident type can change the retention timeline. Agencies often keep routine footage for the shortest time and preserve serious incident footage for much longer.
- Routine patrol footage may follow a short department schedule.
- Traffic stop footage may stay longer if it leads to a citation, arrest, or complaint.
- Crash footage may trigger a longer retention rule in some states.
- Use-of-force footage often receives stronger protection.
- Footage tied to criminal charges or litigation may stay until the case ends.
Georgia gives a clear example of this category-based approach. Its schedule gives 30 months for footage that shows a vehicle accident, detainment, arrest, officer use of force, or a criminal investigation. It also keeps footage used in litigation until final adjudication.
You should treat these rules as examples, not a national answer. Ask the agency for its retention schedule and the state law that controls your request.
Myths and Facts About Dash Cam Footage Retention
Many people think police departments keep dash cam footage forever. Most agencies do not. They use records schedules that tell staff when to keep, archive, release, redact, or delete recordings.
Another myth says officers can delete footage whenever they want. Agency policy usually controls deletion, and official systems often restrict who can delete or alter recordings. Still, an agency may delete unflagged footage after the legal retention period ends.
A third myth says a public records request always gets you the video. Public records laws can help, but agencies may deny, delay, redact, or withhold records when an exemption applies.
The safest approach is simple. Send a preservation request early, file a clear public records request, and get legal help when the footage could affect a case, injury claim, charge, or complaint.
The Importance of Legal Support in Securing Dash Cam Footage
Understanding retention policies helps, but legal support can matter when the footage affects a claim or case. A lawyer can identify the right agency, send a preservation letter, and use formal legal tools when needed.
- A lawyer can frame the request with the right legal language.
- A lawyer can act quickly when the agency has a short retention period.
- A lawyer can challenge improper denials or missing records.
- A lawyer can raise evidence destruction issues if the agency fails to preserve key footage.
Legal support can also help when several agencies responded to the same incident. City police, county deputies, state police, and transit police may each hold different footage.
If you need the video for a criminal case, injury claim, civil rights complaint, insurance dispute, or lawsuit, do not rely on a casual phone call. Put your request in writing and keep proof that the agency received it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Is Police Dash Cam Footage Stored?
Police dash cam footage storage depends on the agency and the incident type. Some official schedules use 90 or 180 days for certain recordings, while serious incidents, criminal cases, crashes, arrests, or litigation can require longer retention.
Can Cops Delete Dash Cam Footage?
Individual officers usually cannot delete official dash cam footage outside agency policy. The agency may delete footage after the retention period ends, unless a law, case, preservation request, complaint, or litigation duty requires longer storage.
Can I Get Dash Cam Footage From the Police?
You can request police dash cam footage through the agency’s public records process. Access may depend on state law, exemptions, privacy rules, redactions, and whether the footage relates to an active case.
Do Police Dash Cameras Always Record?
Police dash cameras do not always record every moment of a shift. Many systems activate during traffic stops, emergency lights, officer action, manual activation, or other triggers set by the agency.
What Should I Do If the Police Deny My Request?
Ask the agency to identify the legal exemption it used. You may have an appeal option through the agency, a state public access office, an attorney general process, or a court, depending on state law.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional legal advice. Always consult a qualified lawyer before making decisions based on this information.
Conclusion
The most important point is simple: police do not keep all dash cam footage for the same length of time. Your timeline depends on the state, the agency, the incident type, and whether someone flags the video as evidence. If the footage matters, send a written preservation request and a public records request as soon as you can. Keep proof of every request and response. Fast, organized action gives you the best chance to protect footage before the agency deletes it under its records schedule.
References
- Local Government Record Retention Schedules: Law Enforcement Audio and Video Recordings – Georgia Archives, accessed 2026.
- Georgia Code Section 50-18-96: Retention of Video Recordings – Justia, 2024.
- Office of the Director: FOIA – Illinois State Police, accessed 2026.
- FOIA Guide for Law Enforcement – Illinois Attorney General, 2024.
- How Long Do Police Dash Cam Recordings Need to Be Kept? – Washington State Archives, 2018.
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