diff --git a/blinkpy/blinkpy.py b/blinkpy/blinkpy.py
index 279c513c..53f0ca83 100644
--- a/blinkpy/blinkpy.py
+++ b/blinkpy/blinkpy.py
@@ -30,14 +30,10 @@
     create_session, merge_dicts, get_time, BlinkURLHandler,
     BlinkAuthenticationException, Throttle)
 from blinkpy.helpers.constants import (
-    BLINK_URL, LOGIN_URL, OLD_LOGIN_URL, LOGIN_BACKUP_URL)
+    BLINK_URL, LOGIN_URL, OLD_LOGIN_URL, LOGIN_BACKUP_URL,
+    DEFAULT_MOTION_INTERVAL, DEFAULT_REFRESH, MIN_THROTTLE_TIME)
 from blinkpy.helpers.constants import __version__
 
-REFRESH_RATE = 30
-
-# Prevents rapid calls to blink.refresh()
-# with the force_cache flag set to True
-MIN_THROTTLE_TIME = 2
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -46,7 +42,8 @@ class Blink():
     """Class to initialize communication."""
 
     def __init__(self, username=None, password=None,
-                 refresh_rate=REFRESH_RATE):
+                 refresh_rate=DEFAULT_REFRESH,
+                 motion_interval=DEFAULT_MOTION_INTERVAL):
         """
         Initialize Blink system.
 
@@ -54,6 +51,10 @@ def __init__(self, username=None, password=None,
         :param password: Blink password
         :param refresh_rate: Refresh rate of blink information.
                              Defaults to 15 (seconds)
+        :param motion_interval: How far back to register motion in minutes.
+                             Defaults to last refresh time.
+                             Useful for preventing motion_detected property
+                             from de-asserting too quickly.
         """
         self._username = username
         self._password = password
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ def __init__(self, username=None, password=None,
         self.cameras = CaseInsensitiveDict({})
         self.video_list = CaseInsensitiveDict({})
         self._login_url = LOGIN_URL
+        self.motion_interval = DEFAULT_MOTION_INTERVAL
         self.version = __version__
 
     @property
diff --git a/blinkpy/helpers/constants.py b/blinkpy/helpers/constants.py
index 9acc0217..28eb8e0c 100644
--- a/blinkpy/helpers/constants.py
+++ b/blinkpy/helpers/constants.py
@@ -60,3 +60,7 @@
 OTHER
 '''
 TIMESTAMP_FORMAT = '%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%Z'
+
+DEFAULT_MOTION_INTERVAL = 1
+DEFAULT_REFRESH = 30
+MIN_THROTTLE_TIME = 2
diff --git a/blinkpy/helpers/util.py b/blinkpy/helpers/util.py
index e2e44a43..196c9048 100644
--- a/blinkpy/helpers/util.py
+++ b/blinkpy/helpers/util.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def get_time(time_to_convert=None):
     """Create blink-compatible timestamp."""
     if time_to_convert is None:
         time_to_convert = time.time()
-    return time.strftime(TIMESTAMP_FORMAT, time.localtime(time_to_convert))
+    return time.strftime(TIMESTAMP_FORMAT, time.gmtime(time_to_convert))
 
 
 def merge_dicts(dict_a, dict_b):
diff --git a/blinkpy/sync_module.py b/blinkpy/sync_module.py
index 337b56c5..6c6a6cee 100644
--- a/blinkpy/sync_module.py
+++ b/blinkpy/sync_module.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ def __init__(self, blink, network_name, network_id, camera_list):
         self.network_info = None
         self.events = []
         self.cameras = CaseInsensitiveDict({})
+        self.motion_interval = blink.motion_interval
         self.motion = {}
         self.last_record = {}
         self.camera_list = camera_list
@@ -161,8 +162,15 @@ def refresh(self, force_cache=False):
 
     def check_new_videos(self):
         """Check if new videos since last refresh."""
+        try:
+            interval = self.blink.last_refresh - self.motion_interval*60
+        except TypeError:
+            # This is the first start, so refresh hasn't happened yet.
+            # No need to check for motion.
+            return False
+
         resp = api.request_videos(self.blink,
-                                  time=self.blink.last_refresh,
+                                  time=interval,
                                   page=1)
 
         for camera in self.cameras.keys():
diff --git a/tests/test_sync_module.py b/tests/test_sync_module.py
index 7962a075..191e83c3 100644
--- a/tests/test_sync_module.py
+++ b/tests/test_sync_module.py
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ class TestBlinkSyncModule(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         """Set up Blink module."""
         self.blink = blinkpy.Blink(username=USERNAME,
-                                   password=PASSWORD)
+                                   password=PASSWORD,
+                                   motion_interval=0)
         # pylint: disable=protected-access
         self.blink._auth_header = {
             'Host': 'test.url.tld',
             'TOKEN_AUTH': 'foobar123'
         }
+        self.blink.last_refresh = 0
         self.blink.urls = blinkpy.BlinkURLHandler('test')
         self.blink.sync['test'] = BlinkSyncModule(self.blink,
                                                   'test',
@@ -59,6 +61,12 @@ def test_get_camera_info(self, mock_resp):
         self.assertEqual(self.blink.sync['test'].get_camera_info('1234'),
                          'foobar')
 
+    def test_check_new_videos_startup(self, mock_resp):
+        """Test that check_new_videos does not block startup."""
+        sync_module = self.blink.sync['test']
+        self.blink.last_refresh = None
+        self.assertFalse(sync_module.check_new_videos())
+
     def test_check_new_videos(self, mock_resp):
         """Test recent video response."""
         mock_resp.return_value = {