There are specific requirements for applications where the purpose is to provide “Sequential digital video file evidence in a court of law” that enable that video file evidence to be used in court to defend the liability of the district or prosecute the guilt of a passenger or driver.



Video File Evidence Admissibility Requirement or Concerns:

Date Time Stamp
The most basic requirement after having an event captured on video for use as evidence is the Time and Date to be on the video evidence in an overlay or as metadata. Should this minimum requirement not be met, it will likely cause the Private Contractor Charter Bus Camera video files evidence to not be admissible as there is no way to prove when the video was taken and could cast reasonable doubt on the veracity of said evidence.


Identify The Vehicle
After the Time and Date on the video evidence record, the next requirement is to prove what vehicle the video clip is from, as most buses look the same. The Vehicle ID# is a minimum requirement that if not met will likely cause the Special Needs Wheelchair Bus Camera and or Alternative School & Juvenile Detention Bus Security Camera video files evidence to not be admissible as there is no way to prove what vehicle the video files were recorded in.


Encryption Watermark
It is a fact that encrypted video files are more complex to open and share than non-encrypted files as their encryption adds another dimension to their file structure and player requirements. Some find the added video file requirements for using encrypted files annoying, there is a reason.
The added steps in school bus camera file security protect the video files' integrity and limit the ability of others to view the files, which is important to prevent perverts from accessing the video files of other people's children who are recorded on school buses.


Chain of Custody
School Bus Camera applications require a lower level of integrity for evidence if used in court than the Law Enforcement Vehicle Prisoner Transport Cameras even though all Public & Private School Bus Contractor or Charter Bus Camera systems were derived from the Police Prisoner Transport camera systems that provide video file evidence of Corrections Tactical Operations High Risk/Value/Profile Inmate transport Video Camera systems require much more liability documentation than others due to their higher profile nature. Typically “chain of custody” is the means to verify that only authorized staff members have access to the video files.


Original Memory Source Must Be Maintained for Forensics 
The court has the right to require the “Original Video File Storage Device” for examination and forensic review depending on the case and the discretion of the judge. It is best to always keep any digital video evidence that may end up in court for 7 years when most statutes of limitations expire for charging and litigation. For this reason, it is wise to invest in many spare memory devices whether SD cards or SSD drives.
Any incident that will potentially end up in court, requires the original memory device to be immediately locked so it cannot be overwritten. To “Lock” the SD card there is a sliding tab on the left side, move the tab to the “locked” position.

Elderly Senior Day Care Transportation Camera systems along with the Transportation Ministry Youth Activities Church Bus Camera System sold by American Bus Video Inc. are encrypted, so the file is overwritten with multiple watermarks, so the veracity of the video file integrity can be proven in court when needed. These transportation application providers are an easy target for litigation as it is often 1 on 1 driver to the passenger so you end up with he said she said disputes.



Blurring or Video Masking
As it relates to Prisoner Inmate Transit Cameras & Paratransit Camera systems “Video Masking” a technical means or mechanism to render those not involved in the captured incident to be rendered non-viewable or unrecognizable in the playback video. It is important to do this in a way that does not damage the original video recording on the original memory source.

The option of video masking or blurring the faces of non-involved persons is a must-have as in some states it may be a crime to record and display other people's underage children in any venue.



Stand-A-Lone Systems 
Most applications run the system software on their PCs without problem selecting “Run as administrator”, however, we understand some networks and servers may not permit it. Unlike Waste Collection Recycling Video Camera Surveillance Systems applications where there is a low risk of data breach and theft of the video files stored on the SD memory cards, Armored Vehicle VIP Transport Video Camera Systems equipped vehicles, and the other high-value target application of Cannabis Products & Cash Transport Vehicle Camera Recorder Systems are managed by entities or agencies that cannot be interconnected to the networks and must operate isolated from other wireless access.
Some applications require a separate video file viewing PC as the software is written in China, and some government networks do not permit China software to be running or accessing their network files due to Network Security concerns.
Systems we have in use by the US Army, Air Force, DoS, DHS, Border Patrol, and municipal police or school districts may also need to set up a system outside of their network for video file viewing.
Most opt for a PC that is not tied into the network or isolated so there is no sharing of access that may be required.



Sharing Video File Clips
Forget what you might have been taught in Kindergarten about sharing. In general, it is a bad idea to share video file clips with those outside the school district staff and management. The reason for this is that video files contain audio tracks as well as video tracts.

Different Vehicle Video Camera Surveillance Recorder applications have different parameters of behavior expected for the driver to operate under.

For example; Alternative School & Juvenile Detention Bus Security Camera vehicle drivers may not hesitate to yell something with adult language to older youths to get them to behave in a ride to their school. They may not treat them with the same level of respect those in other applications would be expected of a driver in other applications.

Imagine if you will, an incident involving a Transportation Ministry Youth Activities Church Bus Camera System equipped bus, where Tommy is choking Johnny, you suspended him for a day from school, and you send a copy to the parents to prove their little angel was having a bad day. Then their parent's attorney contacts the church threatening a lawsuit for the driver's assault and threats of violence against their child. Often while driving a bus and navigating the fast-moving cars on the road, it is stressful and at times frustrating to see in the rearview mirror children engaging in inappropriate behaviors like fighting, so some drivers with less self-control have been known to yell something like; "Sit your butts in your seats or I'll come back there and give you both a good butt whooping" to get them to behave so the driver can focus on driving safely. What they yell to the children may be loud, threatening, and abusive at times and while we may understand their agitation and outburst to permit them to operate the vehicle safely, no parent is overly sympathetic to a stranger threatening to give your child a spanking with their belt.

Passion is a virtue if the time is right or the cause is just, but when a driver is doing their best to drive a vehicle in the rain with 60+ children’s lives in his hands, that driver's passion can sometimes cause unintended consequences when the driver lost his cool yelled at and threatens both children with a “butt whooping”.

Then the reasoning on Screenshots only makes sense.
The only reason I can see to justify sharing a video clip with audio outside the company would be with a court order.

The problem with perception and parental passion is greatly magnified when dealing with those very young children which is why many who transport these pre Kindergarten children are investing in Head Start  Pre-School Nursery School Child Safety Bus Camera Recorders for their vehicles to ensure the additional level of verifiable oversight is available when needed to verify or disprove a claim made by these very young children or their parents.

Most applications of passenger transport are public or government-based, but special care should also be provided to address the liability risk and liability when private service contractors transport passengers, especially very young children to daycare where they are then transported to school and brought back to the child care facility for parents to pick them up or be transported home later in the night when the parents are home. These applications benefit from Before & After Care School, Child Day Care Pickup In-vehicle Shuttle Safety Cameras equipped vehicles adding a verifiable non-biased expert digital eye witness documentation of the events.

Should you have any questions, concerns, or require more information about Testudo Lifetime System Warranty Vehicle Camera Systems, various applications, or School Bus Student Transportation Video Camera Recorder configurations, we encourage you to let us know and we will be happy to offer our 35+ years of market experience in sales and service of digital recording devices to respond to your concerns or questions, Click “Contact US”