Policy Text
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Police Department Ge neral Orders
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4.7 Patrol Operations: Vehicle Equipment and Uniform
4.7.14 Activation of Mobile Audio/Video Recording System (MAV) (Revised : 5/16/23 )
The Mobile Audio/Video Recording System (MAV ) is automatically activated when the patrol
car’s overhead lights are activ ated. The MAV is also activated if the patrol vehicle exceeds 100
mph. The video system remains on until it is turned off manually inside the vehicle. The audio
feature is also activated automatically when th e overhead light switch is activated.
Audio and video recording can also be activated remotely by sw itching the wireless microphone
to the "on" position or pressing the C1 button on the MDC screen. The audio and video functions
for cameras facing the rear seat area can be activated by pressing the C2 b utton on the screen.
A. Required Activation of MAV
This policy is not intended to describe every possible situation in which the use of the
MAV system is appropriate. In addition to the required situations n oted below, an officer
may activate the system a t any time he/she believes its use would be appropria te and/or
valuable to document an incident. Officer safety is the paramount concern, so activation
of the MAV should occur only if it is safe to do so.
In some circumstances, it is not possible to captu re images of the incident due to external
conditions or the location of the camera. However, the audio portion can still be valuable
evidence and is subject to the same activation requirements as the MAV.
Activation of the MAV system is required in any o f the following situations within video
and/or audio range:
1. All field contacts involving actual or potential criminal conduct, including, but
not limited to:
a. Vehicular pursuits
b. Suspicious vehicles
c. Felony vehicle stops
d. Traffic stops
e. Arrest s
f. Pedestrian stops
g. DUI investigations including field sobriety tests (SFST)
2. Any call for service involving a crime where a recording might aid in the
apprehension and/or prosecution of a s uspect, including, but not limited to:
a. Domestic violence calls
b. Disturbance of peace calls
c. Offenses invo lving violence or weapons
d. Crimes against persons
e. Prisoner transports
Universi ty of California, San Francisco
Police Department Ge neral Orders
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(1) This will be at the officer’s discretion except when dealing with a
noncompliant prisoner, if the officer feels that an offi cer complaint
may be generated or if the officer is t ransporting a member of the
opposite sex.
3. Any contact not initiated by an officer that becomes adversarial during a situation
that would not otherwise require recording
4. Any other circumstances in w hich the officer believes that a recording of an
incident would be appropriate or desired. Examples include, but are not limited to:
a. Responding to an in -progress call, such as a prowler, whe re the officer
may be able to record the suspect’s actions as h e/she drives up and/or
catch the suspect running away
b. Situations in which the video can assist in identifying multiple suspects,
such as approaching a 415 fight and catching a battery in pro gress
c. Capturing the audio of the officer’s commands and susp ect’s responses
5. Officers are encouraged to narrate events via the audio recording function so as to
provide the best documentation for tracking investigations, report writing and
courtroom p resentation.
Once the MAV system is activated, it shall remai n on and shall not be turned off until the
incident h as concluded. For the purposes of this section, conclusion of an incident has
occurred when all arrests have been made and all witnesses, victims, etc. have been
interviewed at the scene.
Recording may cease if an individual officer has cleared from the i ncident and his/her
role in the preliminary investigation has concluded (e.g., while waiting for a tow truck
operator).
Office rs may mute the MAV microphone when exchanging confidential or personal
information with other officers or supervisors at the sce ne of the incident. If the officer is
going to mute the microphone, he/she should state this before muting the microphone
and, after restoring the microphone to normal function, state that he/she is doin g this, so
both actions are recorded.
B. When Activa tion of MAV Is Not Required
Activation of the MAV system is not required when exchanging information with other
officers , during breaks or lunch periods , or when not in service or actively on patrol.
No member of the Department may surreptitiously record a conversation of any other
member of th e Department except with a court order or when lawfully authorized by the
Chief of Polic e or the authorized designee for the purpose of conducting a criminal
investigation.
Universi ty of California, San Francisco
Police Department Ge neral Orders
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C. Reviewing Recordings in Vehicle
Review of MAV recordings by a single officer unit should be limited to times when the
patrol vehicle is stopped. Entering or reading da ta while operating a patrol vehicle is a
dangerous practice. Reviewing data or recordings while driving should only be attempted
when the information is needed for an in -progress situation. Officers shall intentionally
not erase, alter, reuse, modify or ta mper with MAV recordings.
D. Review of Archived MAV Recordings
Recordings may be reviewed in any of