Michigan FOIA Knowledge Center
How to Request Dash-Camera and Patrol-Car Video in Michigan
Dash-camera footage may document the approach, stop, pursuit, transport, or roadside investigation from a different perspective than body-worn video. Request both when both may exist.
Build the request
Identify the stop or incident, vehicle or unit number if known, date, time window, location, officer, and incident number. Request video, synchronized audio, metadata, activation records, and any export or audit log associated with the production.
Do not assume body-camera rules control
Michigan’s separate body-camera statute is tailored to cameras worn by officers. Dash-camera material may instead be analyzed under ordinary FOIA provisions and other applicable law.
Request retention and system policies
Ask for the agency’s dash-camera retention schedule, activation policy, and deletion policy when those records are relevant. Prompt requests reduce the risk that routine retention periods expire.
Treat patrol-car video as its own record category
Dash-camera footage may begin, end, or be indexed differently from body-camera footage. Ask for the patrol-car video, associated audio, event metadata, and any export or audit information needed to identify the complete recording.
If several units responded, identify that fact rather than assuming one officer’s production includes every vehicle. Dispatch and unit-history records can help determine which cars were present and therefore which recordings should exist.
Requester checklist
- Time window
- Location
- Officer/unit
- Video and audio
- Metadata/export logs
- Retention policy
Primary sources
External authorities control. Confirm the current statute, decision, policy, and local procedures before relying on them.