It’s that time again on December 6th: Santas (and scumbags, of course) will travel all over Switzerland to scold naughty children, praise the good ones, and hand out gifts from sacks. Rarely in this country, but elsewhere, Santa Claus comes to Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.
But whether it’s St. Nicholas or “Santa Claus”: Because of the costume and gift bag, the journey to the performance is often by car – and ready to go, masked. But is this really allowed?
Allowed, but sometimes difficult
We ask Andrea Auer (36), mobility expert at the online comparison portal Comparearis.ch. “Basically it is allowed,” Auer emphasizes. “However, the same applies as always, as the Zurich cantonal police confirm: neither view, nor operation, nor attention can be restricted.” This means: Like eating while behind the wheel, it’s not prohibited, but can lead to criminal prosecution if you have poor vehicle control or vision, are distracted, or have to use your second hand to grip your beard (more on one manual driving here).
At worst, this will be costly – because anyone who can’t see everything because of the hood, gets off the road every time you change gear due to limited mobility, or is otherwise disabled could be fined. This usually costs 300 francs plus the fee, a multiple in rough cases and a driver’s license.
Fines are also paid with masks.
What if Santa drives too fast or runs a red light but is unrecognizable because of his beard and hat? In Germany, for example, this is a problem – so you are not allowed to drive with a Santa Claus beard (and in Baden-Württemberg, for example, only a respirator if you are not wearing a hat or sunglasses): The so-called driver’s liability applies to neighbors for gross violations. Only those detected by the police can be punished.
In Switzerland, the situation is different: we have a so-called watchdog responsibility. “According to the Zurich cantonal police, fines are always handed over to the owner. If this person does not drive, you can indicate the person driving the car.” If the ticket is more expensive, the following applies: If the ticket holder does not want to use the vehicle, assistance in identifying the driver is mandatory. So the beard is ok.
What if there’s an explosion while Santa Claus is on his way? “Then the police will check, for example, whether the costume contributed to the accident,” Auer says. If so, it will be expensive. The problem is not over yet. Auer: “If the car insurance company believes that the costume was the cause of the accident due to gross negligence, they may reduce their compensation.”
Better than headgear and beard
So, as a Samichlaus, would you rather ride a bike or a moped despite the cold? “Choose the tram,” says Auer, “because transported objects such as the Samichlaus sack should not interfere with the signaling and should also not be wider than one metre.”
Conclusion of the comparator: «If possible, you should avoid driving in a Santa Claus costume. It can be bulky or rough, making it difficult to work with, pay attention, and be visible. In addition, there is something called belt slack: the thicker the garment, the weaker the protection the belt provides. If you’re driving in a costume, you should remove your beard and hoodie, tighten your seat belt, and make sure you have complete freedom of movement and vision: you don’t want to spoil the pre-Christmas period with a fine or even a penalty. accident.”