Question:
We all have toys or tools?
Three weeks ago, I hooked up a web cam to my laptop and am recording everything that is going on around my truck onto my ‘Movie Maker’ software.
Note:
I have my laptop mounted on a stand next to my seat, with EZ viewing of the pictures and my GPS mapping.
Been getting some good shots of people (including truck drivers) driving like nut cases! Been editing and dating the best incidents and saving them for future use in my Drivers Ed classes.
Last Friday I had a reckless driver pass my truck on a double yellow line in a School Zone in my hometown Called 911 a reported the drivers actions which included him trying to pass a car that was in front of me (By way of the shoulder) on the left side. Local 911 operator asked if I wanted to press charges if they stopped the guy. At first, I said no! Local county unit requested I do, because it’s considered to be reckless driving in a School Zone and they were cracking down!
Consequently, I said I would and gave then my cell phone number. 15 minutes later, they stopped the guy. Needless to say, he was quite angry a truck driver darned judge his driving. He said he would fight it. However, he was unaware that my web cam was filming him. Met the cops later and showed them what was recorded. It showed both unsafe actions of the driver, and the license plate numbers were readable!! The coppers were impressed.
The other day I filmed a guy in a rest area that was looking over my truck like he found an outlaw or was up to no good. --> (I was in the bunk microwaving lunch!) He didn’t look happy so I saved it if some kind of trouble happened in the future. (I have a real good face shot!) -->
So you tailgating cutting people off drivers remember.
SMILE! You are being filmed onto my laptop!! -->
*******************************************
Sherlock Holmes aka Indiana RoadRunner
A legend in his own mind! -->
Dedicated to solving high crimes and misdemeanors in the trucking industry.
Proud member of the Happy Dweller Society!
Company driver division
--> -->

Answer:
That's Exactly WHY I had mine set-up the way I did. --> --> -->
Way to Go! -->

Answer:
In the late '80s a truck driver radio'd the police to report my erratic driving (in a four-wheeler) on the interstate. I was trying to make it home even though I was way too sleepy. The police stopped me and told me where the best value was for stopping for the night and suggested I do. I've always appreciated that.
I'm in a tight spot!

Answer:
Sherlock,
Did you know that there are now wireless webcams? They are great especially for monitoring like you use it for. They run anywhere from $200 to $250. If your interested, I can point the way.
Too error is human, to forgive divine...to put up with stupidity...impossible.

Answer:
Originally posted by thefoyboy:
Did you know that there are now wireless webcams? They are great especially for monitoring like you use it for. They run anywhere from $200 to $250. If your interested, I can point the way.
I have been doing a search.
Like to have one that I could put on the back of my trailer. (I pull different trailers, so I need one that is quick on and quick off!) Batteries are an issue with wireless!
Also, looking at different software that can record 4 cameras at the same time. Right now, I can only record onto my laptop 1 at a time.
Been doing a lot of testing and playing. The wires from different ideas are getting in the way!
*******************************************
Sherlock Holmes aka Indiana RoadRunner
A legend in his own mind! -->
Dedicated to solving high crimes and misdemeanors in the trucking industry.
Proud member of the Happy Dweller Society!
Company driver division
--> -->


Answer:
I've mentioned this before. The steering wheel holders went balistic over the idea.
I would not be opposed to having video recording camera's made mandatory in all commercial vehicles.
Since there are so many irresponsible drivers behind the wheel of a truck today, this would sharply curb tailgating, reckless driving, in trucks.
The only one's that seem to be opposed to the idea of video recorders in trucks, are the lawless, reckless drivers.

Answer:
Originally posted by Sherlock Holmes:
You are being filmed onto my laptop!!
Do the words "Invasion of Privacy" have any meaning to you?
Join The Teamsters

Answer:
oh wise yanker of the tank!!! -->
CD -->
"I dont like small cars or real big women,but somehow I always find my self in 'em" (Kid Rock)
_________________
CD
recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
A stand-alone 1 to 16 camera unit can be built from a PC that would work in a vehicle with a little extra work.. I read on this forum another user (choclit snda) that used a web cam to record goings-on around there rig. I have since contacted my old hardware distributor too see if there is a mobile 12 volt DVR on the market that will perform as well as a PC but also send video over IP (for my personal use), once I read choclit snda’s post I felt there may be a need for such a device.
www.x10.com has wireless cams that could probably be mounted on a trailer via a magnet from an old CB antenna but I have never seen one in real life, there site is riddled with pop-ups so beware.
Invasion of privacy would come into play if the camera was pointed into your truck window or other “private” location, once you step out the door of your home or truck everybody and there mother can poke a camera in your direction to record what they please. There is not many places you can go now-a-days that doesn’t have some sort of surveillance system watching your every move, I have installed them in almost every imaginable location, indoors and out, one on a truck and one for a home owner that controls a gate that will only let a vehicle through if it recognizes the license plates of the family, possibilities are only limited by ones imagination I would think.
CG..

Answer:
I was just thinking. A mobile mini cam receiver that would be the size of a key chain. Hook up a video cam in your truck. The small key chain receiver could be used in place of an alarm system.
Alarm sound systems are not practical for trucks but wireless remote systems are practical.
Your key chain unit you carry with you would beep during a break in and display the video wireless to you on your mini cam receiver of an intruder alert.
The lack of truck security systems is a concern with many drivers. Today's drivers often carry several thousands of dollars worth of personal items in their trucks.

Answer:
Good idea dak1, the unit would need to be able to record at least ten or fifteen seconds of video to show the cops in case the perpetrator(s) got away before you could get back to the rig though, some way to make a “hard copy” from that media would be even better..
CG..
Edited cuz my spellchecker replaced "perpetrator" with "protractor" and I did not catch it in time
CG..
[This message was edited by Crippled Granny on November 15, 2003 at 21:31.]

Answer:
I don't know all that much about the MP3 players and if they would/could hold video. I know some are very small in size. They have key chain MB information units you download from/to a computer/laptop.
Would these hold a 15 minute video? The video cam in the truck would only come on if a security sensor activated the video system during a break in.
The camcorder in the truck could be set up to toggle from always "on mode" to security "alert mode" only when needed for the purpose of an intrusion.
I don't think it would be all that hard to set up something like this. Manufacturers could easily make such systems in place of current car alarms.
With so many car alarms always going off, people don't pay any attention to them anymore. These car alarm sound systems are pretty much obsolete technology.
Video combined with wireless remote units seem to be a better deterrent if the intruders or car thieve knows his image is captured on video the moment he sets off the wireless messaging system.

Answer:
Those little MP3 players use stick memory like the ones U can buy for your USB port, 64 meg, 128 meg etc. I have some video of people doing things in the store I worked for that would fit onto a 128 meg memory stick but most I have will not. There are variables on how much room recorded video will use, video resolution, quality of compression for the stream and the amount of motion in the video are the most influential factors.
All digital surveillance systems can be set to “motion sense”, can be set on a cam to cam basis in case a person wants to record video 24/7 on one or two cams, our point of sale cams were recording all the time we were open, motion sense once I set the alarm to go home.. All digital surveillance systems can email you an event, send a snapshot to your PDA or cell, one or multiple people at once, very cool stuff.
In the shop I worked for I placed a 17” TFT monitor on the front point of sale desk so people can see for themselves they are being “watched” the second they walked through the door, people still ripped us off, most were caught once we noticed something missing then went to the DVR, the cops just loved us..
I would try to market a mobile DVR but I have zero business sense..
CG..

Answer:
Originally posted by GeneThePoolLifeguard:
Do the words "Invasion of Privacy" have any meaning to you?
Sorry Nitwit, but you are not doing an "Invasion of Privacy" when you film someone driving a car or truck!!!!!!!!!!
Now if I were sticking the web cam in the ladies bathroom......
*******************************************
Sherlock Holmes aka Indiana RoadRunner
A legend in his own mind! -->
Dedicated to solving high crimes and misdemeanors in the trucking industry.
Proud member of the Happy Dweller Society!
Company driver division
--> -->


Answer:
Sherlock,
With these wireless webcams, you can monitor and record up to 16 at once if you choose. Find them here...
http://www.dlink.com/products/?model=DCS-1000W
Too error is human, to forgive divine...to put up with stupidity...impossible.