How to get crash video: body cameras, dashcams and traffic cameras by state
How to request police body camera, dashcam and traffic camera video of a crash in each state: the public records law, deadlines, fees and exemptions, from official sources.
51 states verified so far. More are added only after an independent fact-check.
| State | Records law | Police video | Traffic cameras | Open cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10 business days, then 15 (extendable) | View only, if you are on the video | ALDOT: not recorded or stored | Investigative files closed by statute |
| Alaska | State: 10 working days, +10 if justified | No bodycam statute found; APRA applies | No DOT&PF recording statement found | May be withheld if it could interfere |
| Arizona | Promptly; receipt within 5 business days | DPS: date, place, name; local: no rule | ADOT says it does not record | No statutory exemption; harm test |
| Arkansas | Now, or 3 working days if in use/storage | FOIA governs; fee caps in 25-19-112 | ARDOT: live only, not recorded | Open criminal probe files exempt |
| California | 10 days to decide, up to 14 more | No special crash-video law; CPRA rules | Caltrans: video neither kept nor saved | Exempt, even after the case closes |
| Colorado | Police: no deadline; CORA 3 working days | No crash-video statute; CCJRA governs | No CDOT statement found; ask CDOT now | May deny investigatory files |
| Connecticut | Prompt; denial in 4 business days | Public under FOIA, with privacy limits | CTroads cameras do not record | Crime-records exemption, 8 categories |
| Delaware | 15 business days, or reason for delay | Body cams worn; no release statute | No DelDOT recording statement found | AG: crash video exempt, even if closed |
| District of Columbia | 15 business days; MPD body cam: 25 | On it? Ask to view (limited); copy: FOIA | DDOT CCTV deleted after 90 days | May be withheld if it would interfere |
| Florida | No fixed deadline; prompt, good faith | Bodycam statute; kept at least 90 days | No current FDOT statement found | Active criminal investigation exempt |
| Georgia | 3 business days to produce or explain | Crash video kept 30 months; ORA applies | 511GA: GDOT cameras do not record | Withheld until the case is final |
| Hawaii | Reply in 10 business days (OIP rules) | No release statute; UIPA governs | No official recording statement found | May be withheld; no set end date |
| Idaho | Residents: 3 working days, 10 if noticed | No bodycam release law; Records Act | No ITD statement on recording found | Inactive files open unless a listed harm |
| Illinois | 5 business days, plus 5 if extended | Body cam: drivers on camera may get it | No IDOT recording statement found | Withheld only if release would interfere |
| Indiana | 24 hours or 7 days to respond | Public unless harm found; $150 copy cap | No INDOT statement on recording found | Ongoing investigation can delay video |
| Iowa | No fixed deadline; actual-cost fees | Often withheld as investigative report | Some DOT cameras record; kept 7 days | Can stay confidential after case closes |
| Kansas | Act within 3 business days, not produce | Closed record; subjects may view | No KDOT statement on recording found | Agency may close; court can order out |
| Kentucky | 5 business days to decide; copy cost | Body cam: involved people view on site | No current KYTC statement found | Withheld if release could risk harm |
| Louisiana | Sue if no answer in 5 business days | Body cam withheld for privacy: court | DOTD: live feeds, never recorded | May be held until the case is resolved |
| Maine | Acknowledge in 5 working days | No video statute; may be confidential | No MaineDOT recording statement found | Confidential if harm reasonably possible |
| Maryland | Written request; answer in 30 days | Body cams required; PIA decides release | CHART live cameras store no video | Discretionary; weaker once case closes |
| Massachusetts | 10 business days; 5 cents a page | No video statute; records law governs | Live images; no stated recording policy | Exemption (f); case by case, no end date |
| Michigan | 5 business days, one 10-day extension | FOIA; private-place body cam is exempt | MDOT: not continuously recorded | Only if release would interfere |
| Minnesota | Prompt; 10 business days for your data | Crash parties get unredacted body cam | MnDOT records many highway cameras | Confidential while the case is active |
| Mississippi | 7 working days, 14 with written notice | No body cam law found; Records Act rules | MDOT: live feed only, no footage kept | Investigative reports: agency may hold |
| Missouri | 3 business days, or explain the delay | Closed while active; parties may get it | MoDOT St. Louis cameras: not stored | Closed until no further action is taken |
| Montana | State: acknowledge in 5 business days | No bodycam statute found; CJI Act | MDT: cameras do not record video | Criminal file: by law, court or victim |
| Nebraska | Written request: 4 business days | Policy must keep body cam 90 days min | NDOT: camera images are not archived | May be withheld; law sets no end date |
| Nevada | Response by the 5th business day | Public record, requested per incident | NDOT says it does not record | No set exemption; Donrey balancing |
| New Hampshire | 5 business days to respond in writing | Body cam exempt; 3 exceptions | Law limits recording; some exceptions | Agency must prove a Murray ground |
| New Jersey | 7 business days; electronic copies free | Ask for 3-year hold; 180-day minimum | NJDOT records; kept 7 days only | Two exemptions; no fixed end date |
| New Mexico | 15 days unless excessively burdensome | Body cam kept 120+ days by policy | No NMDOT recording policy found | No blanket open-case exemption |
| New York | 5 business days to respond | No release statute; FOIL governs | No official recording statement found | Withheld if release would interfere |
| North Carolina | “As promptly as possible”; actual cost | Not public; copy needs court order | NCDOT says its cameras do not record | Closed records; no set end date |
| North Dakota | Reasonable time; no set number of days | Body cam in private place: exempt | No NDDOT recording statement found | Active investigation: may be withheld |
| Ohio | Promptly; no fixed day count | Public, minus 17 restricted categories | ODOT keeps video 72 hours, free copy | CLEIR exemption; ends with the case |
| Oklahoma | Prompt, reasonable access; no set days | Dashcam open; body cam if events listed | ODOT said in 2015: cameras do not record | Body cam may be held during a case |
| Oregon | Acknowledge in 5 business days | Body cam exempt unless public interest | ODOT says its cameras store nothing | Conditional; usually held while pending |
| Pennsylvania | 5 business days, plus 30-day extension | Act 22 request within 60 days | Turnpike cameras not recorded | Evidence video denied if not redactable |
| Rhode Island | 10 business days, +20 if justified | Body cam: APRA applies, per state rule | No RIDOT recording statement found | Withheld if release could hurt a case |
| South Carolina | 10 business days to decide, then 30 | Body cam not public; some dashcam is | SCDOT does not record its cameras | Withheld only to the extent of harm |
| South Dakota | Written: respond within 10 business days | No bodycam law found; may be withheld | SDDOT: cameras do not record video | Agency may withhold; no end date set |
| Tennessee | Promptly, or answer in 7 business days | Body cam public, minus 3 private scenes | TDOT SmartWay: not recorded | Pending criminal case: may be withheld |
| Texas | Promptly; 10 business days to set a date | Body cam: special rules; 90-day minimum | TxDOT: footage is not recorded | Pending case: presumed to interfere |
| Utah | 10 business days, unless extraordinary | Crash video can be in the report | UDOT: footage generally not recorded | May be withheld during a criminal case |
| Vermont | 3 business days; up to 10 if unusual | No bodycam release law found; PRA | No VTrans recording statement found | Crime records: may withhold if harm |
| Virginia | 5 working days, +7; actual cost | No release statute; VFOIA governs | VDOT says it does not record | Discretionary while ongoing, and after |
| Washington | 5 business days to respond, or estimate | Body cam: parties get it; dashcam held | WSDOT: not recorded or retained | Open, active cases; ends when closed |
| West Virginia | 5 days, excl. weekends and holidays | No body cam statute found; FOIA applies | No WVDOT recording policy found | Investigation records may be withheld |
| Wisconsin | As soon as practicable, no set days | Body cam open; kept 120 days minimum | WisDOT policy: kept 72 hours | No blanket rule; case-by-case test |
| Wyoming | 30 calendar days unless good cause | Denied unless court order or exception | WYDOT: stills; no storage policy found | Investigation files: may be withheld |
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