There is a new trend revving up across America.
Drivers are installing dash cams in their cars that record every second of what they see.
It all started with the police. They have been using the devices for years to provide proof of what really happens when they pull someone over.
“When they want to check out our story, or check their story out - we get the tape and it shows the whole story,” said Cp. Reginald Carr from the Jackson, Miss., Police Department.
“When the public makes complaints about officers, it’s very easy to figure out who’s right and who’s wrong when you have pictures of it,” said Jackson Police Chief Lee Vance.
Now personal dash cams are capturing all kinds of images -- like a meteor exploding over Russia just last year.
“I think what really drove dash cams to popularity here or even the awareness that they existed was back in, I want to say almost two years ago now, when the meteor strikes hit Russia.” said Cobra Electronics marketing director Chris Kooistra.
Russian citizens have been using dash cams for years because of widespread auto insurance fraud. It provides proof of what happens in an accident when they make a claim.
“With a dash cam you have a recorded, a record of what actually happened. So wherever you're going with law enforcement, courts or whatever, you have video footage of what happened,” said Kooistra.
Bill Gremminger is the owner of dashcamusa.com and says his business is growing because dash cams are getting smaller and more affordable.
“We sell cameras for about one-hundred dollars, less or more, give or take,” said Gremminger.
The website offers a variety of recording devices, including a professional grade unit made by Cobra.
“It’s a new category for us that we felt that having been in the electronics for automotive, especially for professional truck drivers, that this would be a useful resource not only for them, but for everyday drivers as well,” said Kooistra.
But Jackson-based attorney Richard Schwartz said dash cameras are part of a technological phenomenon that can affect our privacy.
"More than ever today - you have to be more careful than when you would be in my age when I was younger because video cameras were big bulky things. Now they're everywhere,” said Schwartz.
Experts say before buying and installing one in your vehicle, you should check your state and local laws to make sure they don’t violate consent laws governing recordings.