Portugal warns device owned by 33 million UK tourists 'is illegal'

The popularity of dash cams has surged in recent years as drivers look to protect themselves on the road.

Some European Union nations consider dash cams a significant invasion of privacy. According to Tim Rodie, a driving expert at Motorpoint: "When driving in Portugal, Luxembourg and Austria, it's not permitted to operate a dashcam as they're deemed as an invasion of privacy and carry hefty fines."

While dash cams are widely used among UK drivers, as they can save thousands of pounds in insurance claims, they could incur a substantial €25,000 (£21,300) fine for repeat offenders in Austria.

The RAC cautioned: "And in a few countries – such as Austria and Portugal – dash cam use is completely banned. Repeat offenders in Austria face eye-watering five-figure fines. The message therefore is to make sure you obey the law on dash cam use in whichever country you're driving in."

Skoda warned: "Portugal has the strictest approach: you're not even allowed to own a dashcam! So you can expect the police to give you a hard time even if they find a dashcam on a seat in your car, in the glove compartment or in the boot."

The situation becomes complicated if the only route into Portugal is via Spain, where dashcam use is unrestricted. Dash cams are often deemed illegal because of privacy regulations.

Capturing individuals or private property without permission can lead to penalties. Nevertheless, some individuals claim they use dash cams without problems, as long as they refrain from distributing identifiable recordings.

Whether such footage is permissible in court depends on the judge's decision. Users ought to be careful and consider data protection laws when utilising and disseminating footage. Regarding "usage allowed", Portugal cautions: "Contentious; not explicitly illegal but fraught with privacy concerns."

Source:- YorkshireLive (click here to read the original article)

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