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Date: 10/19/01 Revision: 08/09/18 Reviewed: 03/14/24 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHAD CHRONISTER , SHERIFF STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE Number: GEN 501.00 Page: 1 of 3 SUBJECT: IN-CAR AUDIO/VIDEO RECORDING SYSTEMS * I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for the use of agency -owned in -car audio/video recording systems installed i n Sheriff’s Office vehicles. II. SCOPE: This procedure shall apply to all Sheriff’s Office personnel authorized to operate agency -owned, in -car audio/video systems . This procedure does not apply to audio/video systems used in covert surveillance. III. DISCUSSION: Audio and video t echnology can produce important evidence in any type of case and should be maintained and treated as any other evidentiary item. IV. PROCEDURE: * A. Personnel assigned to the DUI Detail Deputy position shall have audio/video equipment installed in their assigned Sheriff’s Office vehicles . The DUI Detail Deputy should utilize the in-car audio/ video recording system , when available , as a primary support tool in capturing evidence of impaired drivers, and secondarily to support other enforcement or investig ative efforts as appropriate. * B. Equipment Assignment - In-car audio/video recording systems are installed in patrol vehicles assigned to personnel who are assigned as a DUI Detail Deputy . In-car audio/video recording systems can also be installed in ve hicles used as fleet/spare DUI vehicles. * 1. Assigned personnel will be sup plied with a remote microphone. 2 Personnel authorized to use in -car audio/video recording equipment shall be familiar with the operation of the recording systems. * 3. The Information Services Division shall maintain a list of the personnel authorized to use in -car audio/video recording systems. * C. Equipment Maintenance 1. DUI Detail Deputies will perform a function check of the equipment at t he beginning of their shift. The function check will test the video and audio recording functions as well as the unit itself. 2. DUI Detail Deputies will ensure the unit is recording the proper day, date, and time. 3. Any malfunctions of Sheriff's Office e quipment shall be reported to the Information Services Division. If possible, attempts shall be made to correct the malfunction prior to the end of the deputy’s tour of duty. GEN 501.00 08/09/18 Page 2 of 3 4. Repairs to agency -owned equipment, which require going into the internal parts of the unit, shall only be made by an authorized vendor. D. Recording Procedures * 1. DUI Detail Deputies encountering driving violations, particularly those involving suspected DUI offenses, shall utilize the audio/video systems, if available , in order to: a. Obtain evidence of irregular or illegal driving behavior if time and conditions permit. b. Obtain evidence of driver impairment during the contact and performance of roadside sobriety exercises. 2. In-car au dio/video systems may also be used to support the following other areas of enforcement or investigation including, but not limited to: a. Recording hostile or aggressive traffic violators. b. Recording pursuits or emergency response situations. c. Recordi ng or monitoring unruly prisoners being transported in Sheriff’s Office vehicles. d. Recording activities b y trainees in the Field Training program for evaluation and improvement techniques. e. Recording other criminal or non -criminal events, keeping in mi nd the safety of the persons being contacted and the deputy are of paramount concern. * f. Recording of a significant traffic cras h upon impact, if involving an equipped Sheriff’s Office vehicle. 3. All audio recording mus t be done in compliance wi th Florida Statute 934.03(2) (c), which provides that a law enforcement officer or a person acting under the dir ection of a law enforcement officer may intercept or record an oral communication when such person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception or recording and the purpose of the interception is to obtain evidence of a criminal act . Video recording, without audio, is not subject to this provision. * E. DUI Enforcement Detail 1. Deputies assigned to the DUI Detail Deputy position shall be assigned a vehicle equipped with an in -car audio/video system if one is available. 2. Non-DUI Detail Deputy personnel, trained in DUI enforcement and the operation of the in -car audio/v ideo s ystem are authorized to use fleet/spare DUI vehicles equipped with the audio/video system during DUI enforcement details. 3. When a deputy with a properly functioning in -car audio/video system stops or co mes in contact with a suspected impair ed driver, the initial contact with the occupant s should be video recorded . However , the roadside field sobriety exercises shall be video recorded, when practical, with the in -car audio/video system . 08/09/18 GEN 501.00 Page 3 of 3 4. Upon arrival at Central Breath Testing or de signated location the video recording will be uploaded to the Sheriff’s Office server via a wireless connection or USB drive. V. DISPOSITION OF RECORDED MEDIA : A. Following a video recorded incident involving a criminal act and/or arrest