Censoring speedo on RAW footage

[CDA441]

Sup dudes, Since I burned my ass on having my sd card taken by the cops I wanted to ask you guys how to censor the speedo so it is not visible on the helmet cam. Got no ticket tho but there was some evidence of driving quite fast lol.

The problem is that I now ride an MT09 so the speedo is dead on 90° when I look at it so there is no way a privacy filter will work.
I also tried a polarizing filter on the Gopro but it is quite annoying because when I turn my head 5° to the left or right or tilt it, the censoring effect is just gone.
No now I just use a piece of duct tape on the speedo or use my phone as speedo.

However I still want to use my speedometer as normal so I don't anways have to take my phone out.
Does anyone have an idea how it would be possible to censor the speedo but that you can still see it in person but not on camera?

 

[HippoDrone]

You could try using a polarising film on the dash itself, and twist it just enough so that you can see it, but too dark for the camera to pick up easy, then to add belt and braces, put a polarized filter on the camera lens too. Is something I would def be looking into more if I had a fast bike again.

 

[Theodor]

I believe similar subjects have been discussed here several times. Basically, hiding speedo will not make it impossible for the police to determine the speed from the footage. They can time how quick you go through known distance, and get the speed from that.

 

[R-Rated]

I believe similar subjects have been discussed here several times. Basically, hiding speedo will not make it impossible for the police to determine the speed from the footage. They can time how quick you go through known distance, and get the speed from that.

This is where the term "clocking" comes from. They can do it just watching the subject's vehicle pass by to known points to calculate the rate of travel.


If they catch you in the act then another effective method is "pacing" where the officer follows and compares their speed with the subject's vehicle distance from them.

RADAR and LADAR are the high tech methods to determine speed too.

Here in the US, once the officer has reason to initiate the stop then everything after that can take as long as they need.

 

[HippoDrone]

The advantage of a second camera, it allows you to break up the footage

 

[Theodor]

The advantage of a second camera, it allows you to break up the footage

That helps you, when you edit and upload, but not when raw footage is taken on scene, for evidence.

 

[LoneWolfer]

If you're not willing to pay the consequences, don't do stupid shit.

 

[R-Rated]

Also, the newer cameras and their GPS data embedded if not deselected are an issue. Imagine pulling the data from the file and playing it back to get not just the speed at any given point but the entire ride...

 

[Arfa]

Ahem, after watching one of your vids, I can see why you'd like to cover your speedo...

I'm not sure about Belgium traffic law, but in the UK, there's probably enough on your videos for at least careless driving offence, regardless of speed. If not yourself, then some of your riding mates. Though in UK law, the cops would need to supply an exact time and location to pin that on you (some nice clarifications on one of the 44Teeth vids with the White Dalton motorcycle solicitors).

Personally, if you know you're pushing things a bit, I simply wouldn't film it and definitely wouldn't publish it on the internet.

 

[LoneWolfer]

[QUOTE="Arfa, post: 172196, member: 6027"
Personally, if you know you're pushing things a bit, I simply wouldn't film it and definitely wouldn't publish it on the internet.
[/QUOTE]

Solid advice.

 

[Arfa]

Only other thought, you could swap your dash from kph to mph. Possibly not immediately obvious on film and would make you speed appear about two thirds what it really is...

 

[CDA441]

@Arfa & lonewolfer, haha I know. That´s the point of everything. In BE they can not calculate speed by watching footage, that is illegal and it needs to be caught in the act. I already knew I would get these kind of responses, but most motovloggers will agree that speedo censoring is nice to have.
It will defo make it harder for them to calculate the speed precisely since there is no speedometer to correct. Also my cam has an ND filter, which makes 30kmh look like lightspeed, so that´s also a factor to take in consideration.
Maybe I just need to duct tape my speedo and ride by gear x revs

 

[R-Rated]

@Arfa

Maybe I just need to duct tape my speedo and ride by gear x revs

Doesn't riding by revs still leave you open to being caught in the act? If caught then back to your original predicament of being searched and things maybe getting taken?

 

[R-Rated]

@Arfa

Maybe I just need to duct tape my speedo and ride by gear x revs

Doesn't riding by revs still leave you open to being caught in the act? If caught then back to your original predicament of being searched and things maybe getting taken?

View attachment 5528

 

[Drakhen99]

@Arfa & lonewolfer, haha I know. That´s the point of everything. In BE they can not calculate speed by watching footage, that is illegal and it needs to be caught in the act. I already knew I would get these kind of responses, but most motovloggers will agree that speedo censoring is nice to have.
It will defo make it harder for them to calculate the speed precisely since there is no speedometer to correct. Also my cam has an ND filter, which makes 30kmh look like lightspeed, so that´s also a factor to take in consideration.
Maybe I just need to duct tape my speedo and ride by gear x revs

I'm not the brightest bulb in the shed, so can someone explain to me how an ND filter makes your footage look faster than it is?

I look at my own footage and I'm like, "dang, that looks like I was going slow!" ... and then I see my speedometer... and see the actual speed [still within the speed limit, officer, I swear!]

FWIW, I use a circle mask and tracker to blur out my speedometer in Resolve. I am NOT typing speedo close to the word "my" ... too many ways that can be construed!

-John

 

[CDA441]

Doesn't riding by revs still leave you open to being caught in the act? If caught then back to your original predicament of being searched and things maybe getting taken?

View attachment 5528

Permission to post video outside of destined topic, but this one explains it quite well:

At some points he's doing 120 and it looks like he's going 200

 

[SighBored]

Where to find polarizing film? Those laptop privacy ones don't count right? I tried one of those and it was sh*t.

 

[HippoDrone]

I got some off ebay or Amazon iirc when I had my KTM 390

 

[YBGuy]

I still like the idea of just having the camera pointed high enough so you don't see your speedo in the first place. Plus where I live...even though I'm doing 10 over, it seems like everyone else is doing 20 over so I'm sort of trying to keep up with the flow of traffic and not at fault in the first place? Then again if I really want to blur the speedo... I actually like putting funny messages over the top of the speedo in post which is easier to do than trying to perfectly line up motion blur frame by frame.

 

[Drakhen99]

I still like the idea of just having the camera pointed high enough so you don't see your speedo in the first place. Plus where I live...even though I'm doing 10 over, it seems like everyone else is doing 20 over so I'm sort of trying to keep up with the flow of traffic and not at fault in the first place? Then again if I really want to blur the speedo... I actually like putting funny messages over the top of the speedo in post which is easier to do than trying to perfectly line up motion blur frame by frame.

Haha, funny pics overlaying the speedometer ... I've seen it but forgot!

Usually I just throw a circle mask over it and let Resolve try and track my speedometer through a clip... then adjust as necessary. Takes about 5 minutes. Your way would be WAY faster!

[runs off to get some PNGs to throw over speedometer]

-John