Cameras on dashboards of cars are now not just for emergency vehicles, but also for ordinary ones.
Some drivers (as is the case in Russia) have been early adopters of dashboard cam technology for self-protection.
The cameras provide visual proof to fend off charges from possibly-corrupt police officers, as well as protection against insurance scammers who often stage "accidents," CBS News reported.
Insurance companies in the US do not yet provide incentives (as do those in Europe) for drivers who use dash cams.
But with many videos appearing online that document incidents of road rage and other unsafe or outrageous behaviors, that could change soon.
However, there are some restrictions to these devices that consumers should be aware of, according to Rikki Klieman, a CBS News legal analyst.
The camera footage may be admissible in court, Klieman said, but motorists should take care in how the cameras are installed.