Dashcams and Reversing Cameras in Perth: WA Rules

This guide is for Perth drivers, tradies and fleet operators fitting a dashcam, a reversing camera or an aftermarket screen. It covers the Western Australian rules on screens a driver can see, sensible mounting positions, hardwiring a camera so it doesn't flatten the battery, and a few points to think about before you record.

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The WA rule that matters: screens the driver can see

In Western Australia the key rule is in the Road Traffic Code 2000. Regulation 264 says a driver must not drive with a television receiver or visual display unit operating if its screen is visible from the normal driving position, or is likely to distract another driver. A visual display unit is any device that shows images on a screen. The rule applies while the vehicle is moving, and also while it is stationary but not parked, such as waiting at lights.

There is an exception for a screen used as a driver's aid, such as for navigation or showing vehicle information, as long as it is built into the vehicle or secured in a mounting fixed to the vehicle. Even then, you can only look at it when it is safe to do so. Legal Aid WA's infosheet on mobile phones and visual display units sets out the current rules and penalties, including a $300 fine and 3 demerit points for a screen offence at the time it was written.

Rules and penalties change, so check the current position with the WA Department of Transport or Legal Aid WA before you install anything.

Where dashcams fit in

WA's road rules don't single out dashcams by name. A dashcam that only records, with no screen or with its screen switched off or showing a blank display while driving, is not showing you images to distract you. A dashcam whose screen plays live video in your line of sight is a different matter, because that is a visual display unit the driver can see.

The practical approach is simple. Choose a camera with a small screen that turns off after a few seconds, or one that is managed through a phone app. Mount it behind the rear-view mirror where it doesn't block your view. Don't sit in traffic on the Mitchell or Kwinana Freeway scrolling through footage on the camera or your phone. WA's mobile phone rules apply to your phone even if it is acting as the dashcam's viewer.

Reversing cameras and where to put the screen

A reversing camera is treated as a driver's aid. National guidelines for installing aftermarket screens, developed by a working group chaired by the WA Department of Transport, list reversing cameras and rear-view screens among the devices a driver may see while the vehicle is moving. You can read them in the aftermarket visual display unit guidelines.

Those guidelines give useful placement advice. In summary:

• Keep the screen no higher than the top of the windscreen and not so low that you look down more than about 30 degrees.
• Don't place it further left than the rear-view mirror or behind the driver's side of the dashboard.
• Only use the non-critical upper and lower edges of the windscreen for any device, including suction mounts.
• Don't block the speedometer, warning lights or controls such as the light switches.
• Never mount anything on an airbag panel marked SRS, and keep about 500 mm clear in front of it.
• Set the brightness so the screen doesn't glare at night.

Hardwiring a dashcam without flattening the battery

Plugging a dashcam into the cigarette lighter socket is easy, but the cable dangles and many sockets stay live with the ignition off. Hardwiring to the fuse box is neater and lets you use parking mode, which records bumps while the car is parked at a shopping centre car park in Cannington or Joondalup.

Parking mode is also the most common reason a hardwired dashcam leaves a car with a flat battery. Use a hardwire kit with a low-voltage cut-off, and set the cut-off high enough that the car will still start. If the car often sits for days, or is a hybrid or EV with a small 12V battery, consider limiting parking mode or switching it off.

Tap into the fuse box with a proper fuse tap on a circuit that suits the camera, and use a good earth point. Never tap into airbag circuits or their yellow wiring. Our guides on where to put the fuse when wiring an accessory and how to check and replace a fuse cover the basics.

Wiring a reversing camera on a ute or van

Reversing cameras usually take power from the reverse light circuit, so the camera turns on when you select reverse. On utes with a tray, vans and trailers, the long run to the rear is where problems start. Cables get pinched in tailgates or rubbed through on chassis rails, and plugs at the back fill with dust and water.

Run the cable through grommets, keep it away from hot exhaust parts, and secure it every few hundred millimetres. Wireless cameras save the cable run but can drop out near other signals. If a camera flickers or only works some of the time, check the power and earth at the camera first. A multimeter will quickly show whether the reverse feed is getting there.

Recording audio and using footage

Most dashcams record sound by default. In WA, the Surveillance Devices Act 1998 restricts recording private conversations without consent, so recording passengers' conversations can raise legal issues. If you carry passengers, especially for work, consider turning audio recording off or telling people it is on, and get legal advice if you're unsure.

Footage can help with insurance claims and police reports after a crash. Keep the original file, note the date and time, and set the camera's clock correctly. If you want to report another driver, contact WA Police and follow their instructions on how to provide footage.

Fleets and getting it fitted

Fleet operators fitting cameras across several vehicles should use the same mounting position and wiring method in each, so drivers know where to look and faults are easier to find. Work vehicles from the industrial areas in Welshpool, Osborne Park and Bibra Lake often have mobile installs done on site. If you'd rather not pull trim panels yourself, an auto electrician can fit and test the camera, the wiring and the parking mode cut-off in one visit.

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Questions Perth drivers ask

Is it legal to have a dashcam in WA?

WA's road rules don't ban dashcams. The rule to watch is Road Traffic Code regulation 264, which stops you driving with a screen visible to you unless it is a driver's aid mounted to the vehicle. A dashcam that records without displaying video while you drive is the safest choice. Mount it where it doesn't block your view and check the current rules with the Department of Transport.

Can I have a reversing camera screen on all the time?

Reversing cameras and rear-view screens are treated as driver's aids, so a properly mounted screen used for that purpose is generally acceptable. Placement still matters: keep it out of your line of sight through the windscreen, off airbag panels, and away from your instruments. Only glance at it when safe. Confirm current WA rules before installing.

Why does my car battery go flat since I fitted a dashcam?

Parking mode keeps the camera drawing power while the car is off. If the hardwire kit has no low-voltage cut-off, or it is set too low, the battery can drop below what the car needs to start. Set the cut-off higher, shorten the parking mode time, or turn it off if the car sits for long periods.

Should I turn off audio recording on my dashcam?

It's worth considering, especially if you carry passengers. WA's Surveillance Devices Act 1998 restricts recording private conversations without consent. Many people turn audio off by default or tell passengers it is on. If you need certainty for a work vehicle or fleet, get legal advice on your situation.

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