“Glad I had all my valuables out of the car.”
A man went to get his tire changed at a repair shop and was outraged that the technician turned his dash cameras away while completing the work.
The internet, however, is on the technician’s side.
TikTok creator On the Clock Dashcam Footage (@ontheclockdashcamfootage) posted the video late last week. It has since amassed nearly 1 million views.
The video shows a technician getting into a vehicle. As he settles into the front seat, he appears to clock the dash camera inside. He then flips it so that it is no longer recording the interior of the vehicle.
“I went to get some tires replaced at Tire Plaza and the technician does this,” the on-screen text reads. The message continues in the caption, which reads, “You don’t have to remind me to never go back to a Plaza Tire. Thanks ‘Tim’ for the content. Glad I had all my valuables out of the car since the dash cam just wasn’t for you.”
According to On the Clock’s TikTok bio, they are a delivery driver who posts their dash cam footage to the social media platform. It’s unclear if this specific post is sincere, a joke, or simple rage bait. Either way, commenters weighed in.
“I unplug and disable all dash cams for cars coming into my shop,” wrote one mechanic. “You do not have my permission to record the interior of the building. It’s that simple.”
A second viewer agreed, “Mechanic in the right here.”
“As a tech, I’m told to unplug it or advised to,” said a third viewer. “If I wanted to be watched while I worked, I wouldn’t be a tech.”
“My auto shop always unplugged my dash cam and they’ve never given me a reason to not trust them,” another viewer said. “I wouldn’t want them filming in my home; I can respect them not wanting me filming in theirs.”
Not everyone was in agreement. “OK, if you’re a mechanic and not doing anything wrong, then you shouldn’t feel the need to turn people’s dash cams off. It doesn’t matter how you feel about it. They don’t need your permission to film.”
Whether your mechanic is allowed to turn off your dash cam depends on the laws in your state. If your state’s laws prohibit recording on private property, the technician might be in the right. If the state is more lenient about recording reporting rules, the dash cam might need to stay on.
While some technicians might not like being recorded on the job, other establishments might prefer a customer’s dash cam remain on because it creates evidence that can be used during disputes over timing or missing items.
Motor1 contacted On the Clock Dashcam Footage via TikTok comment and direct message for comment. We also contacted Plaza Tire via email for comment. We’ll update this if either responds.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motor1.com?
– The Motor1.com Team