Wow! Am surprised to read how vague the definition is according to the article on Tagesanzeiger posted above.
Until now (and after reading the law in German), I was sure that I was safe when leaving the parking slot (basically giving the oppt to park to someone else), entering traffic and then returning to the same spot.

To all non-German readers: the article basically says that you are not allowed to park within the same "area". With the term "area" not being well defined by the law (surprising for Switzerland, I know). In one case a woman drove 100mts to park at another slot and was fined. The police say, the do not enforce this "area" rule strictly - only when they visually observe someone re-park within the area. If you are leaving a policeman's sight and then return to the "area" to park, you should be safe.

What a joke to me... parkings fill up so easily in Zurich - as soon as you leave one it's gone. If you are lucky enough to find another one "in the area" bc your appointment or whatever happened to take longer, you are liable to punishment. I am very surprised about them enforcing such a vague rule so strictly.

Then again, everything in Zurich is aimed at getting ppl off cars and onto public transport making life really hard for those who HAVE to use a car downtown.