Video in motion — the legal situation in Switzerland

“Video in motion” is one of the most popular codings — and one of the most misunderstood. What is technically activated and what you are allowed to do with it on the road are two different things.

What the activation technically does

Technically, the activation lifts the speed lock of the head unit. Video applications then run not only when the vehicle is stationary, but at any time. BMW locks this at the factory for safety reasons; the coding leaves the responsibility for use to the driver. The intervention itself is reversible, documented and can be reset at any time.

The coding removes the speed lock of the head unit: video applications no longer run only when the vehicle is stationary. Manufacturers lock this for safety reasons — the activation leaves the responsibility to the driver.

Legal situation in Switzerland

In Switzerland, moving images for the driver while driving are not permitted (Art. 3 para. 2 VTS). Passenger operation and park mode are unproblematic, and the coding itself is not an administrative offence. The responsibility for use lies with the driver — we document every activation transparently.

• Moving images for the driver while driving: not permitted (Art. 3 para. 2 VTS)
• Passenger operation and park mode: unproblematic
• The responsibility lies with the driver — the coding itself is not an administrative offence

In practice this means: many drivers use the activation for the passenger or for special cases. We code transparently and document — the decision on how the function is used is yours. For the activation, see the FSC hub and the services overview.

Sensible use in everyday life

Used sensibly, the activation is mainly for passengers and stationary vehicles. In daily life that means: videos run for the front passenger, when parked or, on request, while waiting in traffic — as long as the vehicle is stationary. Anyone who uses the function honestly gets real benefit from the activation without endangering themselves or others.

• Passenger use: unproblematic and the most common use case
• Parked mode: video is always allowed when the vehicle is stationary
• Driver while driving: not permitted — responsibility lies with the driver
• Children in the back seat: films during the journey without a legal grey area

What the activation cannot do

The activation only changes the speed lock — nothing more. It does not make software faster, does not fix faults and does not bypass safety functions. Anyone promising the opposite is missing the point. We only remove the lock, document the intervention and leave the decision on use to you.

In summary: video in motion is technically a small, clean intervention — but the legal responsibility for use lies entirely with the driver. Anyone who knows this and acts responsibly can use the activation with a clear conscience.

Frequently asked questions about the activation

The three most common questions: Is the coding visible? Does it survive updates? Does it work in every vehicle? It is only visible in the head unit configuration, not from outside. It usually survives a software update; after a control unit replacement it must be replayed. And it works in every head unit whose lock can be lifted by coding — the VIN check says so in advance.

• Visibility: only in the head unit configuration, not from outside
• After updates: usually remains intact
• After control unit replacement: must be replayed
• Upfront: the VIN check shows whether your head unit supports the activation

If you are unsure whether the activation is worth it for your vehicle: send us the VIN. We check the head unit generation and software level free of charge, give you the fixed price and honestly explain what the activation brings for your vehicle — and what it does not.