How to Preserve Body Cam, Dash Cam, and Store Surveillance Video in Bronx Cases

Steps to Secure Video Evidence Before It’s Deleted in New York

When something serious happens, like a car crash, a police stop, or an incident at a local business, video can make all the difference. A body cam might show the exact moment of an arrest. A dash cam could capture how a collision unfolded on the Cross Bronx Expressway. A corner store camera might reveal who caused a fall on a slippery floor. In New York, especially in the Bronx, that footage doesn’t last long unless someone takes steps to preserve it.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our Bronx civil rights lawyers help residents act fast to secure video evidence that could protect their rights. Whether you’re dealing with NYPD body cam footage or security video from a deli on East Tremont Avenue, our attorneys know the process, the deadlines, and how to get results. We’ll step in quickly so you don’t lose proof that could strengthen your case.

Why Video Evidence Matters in Bronx Legal Cases

Video doesn’t forget. It doesn’t change its story. That’s why courts in New York take video seriously in both civil and criminal cases. If you were hit by a car, stopped by police, or injured inside a store in the Bronx, camera footage can serve as hard evidence that supports your version of events.

NYPD body cameras, for example, can record how an officer handled a stop near Yankee Stadium. Dash cam footage might capture who ran a red light on Webster Avenue. A surveillance camera in a Morris Park shop might catch the exact moment someone slipped on an unmarked wet floor. Video can cut through the noise and tell a story that people might forget or misremember.

Courts across New York State admit video as direct evidence. But the burden falls on the injured person or the defendant to secure that footage quickly. The clock starts ticking the moment the incident happens.

Act Fast: Bronx Surveillance Footage Disappears Quickly

Video doesn’t stick around by default. Every source, from police departments to small businesses, has a different schedule for erasing footage. In a busy place like the Bronx, data gets overwritten even faster to make room for new recordings.

Here’s how long some footage tends to last:

• NYPD body cams: about 30 days unless flagged
• Personal dash cams: varies by memory size, sometimes 24 to 72 hours
• Store cameras: many overwrite in 7 to 10 days

Most people don’t know they need to ask right away. They may think the video will be there when they need it. In practice, delay almost always means loss. Under New York law, there’s no obligation to keep footage unless someone asks for it formally. The sooner you make that request, the better your chances.

How to Request NYPD Body Camera Footage

Body cam footage belongs to the NYPD, but that doesn’t mean it’s off-limits. You have the right to request it through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. That process can take time, and the video may be deleted before your request is processed if you don’t act quickly. When that happens, your case may be left to rely on proving without bodycam evidence, a process that often lacks the clarity courts prefer.

In Bronx cases, urgency matters even more. Each precinct, like the 44th or 47th, handles these requests a bit differently. To get started, you’ll want to submit:

• A FOIL request directly to the NYPD’s Records Access Officer
• Exact details about the date, time, and location
• Names of officers involved, if known

For more serious incidents, going further may be necessary. A lawyer can issue a preservation notice or seek a court order to block deletion. After 30 days, unflagged footage is often gone for good.

Retrieve Dash Cam Footage from Private Drivers, Rideshare Companies, or Buses

Dash cams are everywhere in New York now, in Ubers, delivery vans, even school buses. If your accident involved one of these vehicles in the Bronx, dash cam video could offer critical details. But you have to move fast and follow the right process to get it.

For personal or rideshare vehicles:

• Send a written preservation letter to the driver or company
• Include your name, the date, and where the incident happened
• Ask them to retain all dash cam footage for the surrounding time

For public vehicles, such as MTA buses:

• Contact the MTA directly or work with an attorney to request video
• Be aware that MTA footage often gets erased within days unless flagged

Unlike NYPD footage, these videos aren’t public records. The only way to preserve them is to notify the right party right away. Otherwise, they might be gone before your case even begins.

Request Store or Street Surveillance in Bronx Commercial Areas

Small businesses and larger stores across the Bronx often have cameras that point toward sidewalks, entryways, or aisles. If you were injured in or near one of these places, that footage may help prove what happened.

Many store owners delete old recordings quickly, sometimes in less than a week. Big chains usually store their video off-site, which can delay access.

To increase your chances:

• Visit the location and ask if they have footage from the date
• Follow up with a written preservation letter immediately
• For national retailers like CVS or Target, send the request to their legal departments

You might have better luck with local shops on Fordham Road or White Plains Road, but the clock still runs fast. In many Bronx neighborhoods, stores reuse their tapes or digital storage to save costs. Without notice, they don’t have to save anything.

Use a Preservation Letter to Prevent Evidence Loss

One of the most effective ways to protect video evidence is through a preservation letter. This is a legal notice sent to a person, business, or agency, warning them not to delete or overwrite footage.

Under New York State law, once a party receives that letter, they can face consequences for destroying the footage afterward. 

The letter should include:

• The exact date and time of the event
• A description of the incident
• The location
• All known parties involved

It doesn’t require a lawyer to send one, but having a legal team makes it more formal and harder to ignore. In Bronx cases, especially those involving multiple parties or city agencies, a strong preservation letter can be the difference between securing footage or losing it forever.

Subpoena Footage Through the Courts If Necessary

Sometimes, a preservation letter isn’t enough. If the other party won’t cooperate or refuses to hand over the footage, you may need to take legal action.

In New York, subpoenas can force businesses, agencies, or individuals to release video evidence. Here’s how that usually works:

• A lawyer drafts a subpoena and files it with the appropriate Bronx court
• The subpoena goes to the party holding the footage
• The court enforces compliance if they ignore it

Depending on the case, this might go through the Bronx County Supreme Court for civil matters or Bronx Criminal Court if there are criminal charges. You don’t need to be in a lawsuit yet to request a subpoena, but having legal representation helps ensure the paperwork is filed correctly and quickly.

Time is always a factor. The longer it takes to issue the subpoena, the more likely the footage will be gone before anyone retrieves it.

Work with a Bronx Lawyer Who Knows Video Preservation Laws

Preserving video evidence isn’t just about filing paperwork. It’s about knowing how to act fast, where to send requests, and how to handle uncooperative parties. Local attorneys understand how the Bronx system works. They know which precincts respond quicker and which businesses tend to erase video faster than others.

They also have experience:

• Navigating FOIL requests and appeals
• Drafting clear, enforceable preservation letters
• Filing subpoenas in both civil and criminal Bronx courts

When your case depends on footage, every step matters. A Bronx attorney who knows the local terrain can move fast, use the right legal tools, and give you the best shot at keeping that evidence intact.

Act Quickly to Secure Key Video Evidence

In a fast-moving borough like the Bronx, video footage vanishes fast. Whether it’s a body cam from an NYPD stop, a dash cam from a delivery van on Jerome Avenue, or store surveillance from a Grand Concourse deli, the window to act is narrow. If you think video might help your case, you need to move immediately. New York law won’t wait, and neither will the people holding the footage.

At Horn Wright, LLP, we understand how to preserve video evidence before it disappears. Our team moves quickly, files the right documents, and helps clients across the Bronx secure footage that could make or break their case. If you’re ready to take action, reach out to us today and let us help protect the proof you need.