By Mitchell Rogers Injury Law, Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyers
Traffic camera footage can be a powerful piece of evidence in legal proceedings. Whether you’re handling a car crash claim, a traffic violation defense, or a criminal matter involving a roadway, being able to retrieve footage quickly can drastically change the trajectory of a case. But there’s one major challenge: the footage doesn’t stick around forever.
The rules for storing traffic footage are far from standardized. Different cities, states, and private vendors all set their own policies. And as you’d expect, some of them don’t hang onto video files for very long—sometimes as little as 24 hours. If you’re a legal professional, this is one area where timing and procedural knowledge really count.
Types of Traffic Cameras and Who Operates Them
Before you can talk about how long footage is kept, you need to understand the different types of traffic cameras and who controls them. That determines both the footage lifespan and how you’ll go about requesting it.
Red-light cameras are typically run by third-party vendors contracted by municipalities. They only save video when a violation is detected. Speed cameras operate similarly, often in school zones or construction areas. Then you have traffic flow cameras, usually operated by the state DOT—they stream live footage to monitor congestion and accidents but rarely record or store footage unless flagged. Police surveillance cameras, often set up in high-traffic or high-crime areas, might retain footage longer but access is generally restricted.
Private businesses with security cameras that point toward public roads also come into play, especially when incidents happen near storefronts or parking lots. Those owners set their own policies.
Is There a Limit on How Long Cameras Keep Footage?
How long traffic cameras keep their footage varies depending on the camera type, operator, and whether a specific incident triggered storage.
Here’s a general breakdown:
- Traffic flow cameras (e.g., DOT live feeds):
- Often not recorded at all
- If recorded, overwritten within 24 to 72 hours
Red-light and speed cameras:
- Footage is stored only if a violation is detected
- Retention is usually between 30 to 90 days
Police surveillance cameras:
- Can range from 7 days to several months
- May be stored longer if associated with an investigation
Private security or business cameras:
- Depends on storage capacity and internal policies
- Typically anywhere from 7 to 30 days
Footage is often deleted automatically unless someone actively saves it. For enforcement cameras, if no violation is logged, there’s often no reason for the footage to be retained. For lawyers, that means the clock starts ticking the moment the incident occurs.
How to Get Traffic Camera Footage
If you’re wondering how to get traffic camera footage, the process can be quick or cumbersome, depending on the agency and your timing. Here are some best practices:
Identify the camera owner:
- Determine whether it’s operated by the state DOT, a local police department, or a private vendor.
Submit a public records request:
- For government-owned footage, file a FOIA request or use the local equivalent.
- Use official forms where applicable, and follow state-specific timelines.
Act quickly:
- Some footage disappears within 24–72 hours. Don’t wait.
- Make the request as soon as you’re retained on the case.
Be detailed:
- Include the exact time, date, location, type of incident, and any identifying information (vehicle descriptions, license plates).
Use subpoenas when needed:
- Private companies or police departments may require a subpoena or court order to release footage.
Follow up persistently:
- Bureaucracies move slowly. One request may not be enough—keep nudging.
A single day’s delay can mean the difference between securing valuable evidence and losing it forever. Build footage requests into your initial case intake checklist.
Strategic Use in Litigation
Traffic camera footage can be the smoking gun—or the exonerating proof. It’s objective, timestamped, and hard to discredit. In personal injury cases, it can clearly establish fault. In criminal matters, it might show what really happened versus what was alleged. Insurance companies often lean heavily on this kind of footage to accept or deny claims, so it’s smart to get ahead of them.
Just keep in mind, not all footage includes audio, and wide-angle lenses can distort depth perception. It’s valuable, but it’s not flawless.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Attorneys unfamiliar with local policies often assume traffic footage is stored indefinitely. It’s not. Another misstep? Filing vague or overly broad requests—those are usually ignored or denied. And don’t assume all traffic cameras are run by the police or the state. Remember, they’re often managed by third-party vendors, and you’ll need to go through municipal channels before getting to the footage.
Also, privacy laws can come into play. In some areas, footage showing pedestrians or license plates might be redacted or restricted unless you’re part of an active legal process.
Final Thoughts
So, how long do traffic cameras keep footage? The honest answer: not long. And if no one flagged the incident, there might not even be footage in the first place. That’s why understanding how to get traffic camera footage—and doing it fast—should be part of every legal team’s evidence game plan.
The bottom line? Don’t treat traffic footage as an afterthought. Treat it like perishable evidence. Because once it’s gone, there’s no way to get it back—and no one’s going to save it for you unless you ask.