Hi all,

I've searched for an answer to these questions, but not found anything - there was a link to a 'blue zone' document, but the doc is not found.

I've heard different things from different people. I would really appreciate if someone could confirm these - even some of my Swiss friends aren't sure on some (other points are included for completeness):

- When parking, should you should set the card to *the next 'mark' on the dial* never between marks? i.e. if you park at 4.15, set it to 4.30. I've heard of someone being fined for 'estimating' the time they arrived between marks.

- Parking in a blue zone space is limited to 1 hour, certainly in Zürich. Is this national?

- If the usual blue zone sign has a four digit number underneath with 'unbeschränkt' or similar, I presume it means either blue disk or permit, not *only* permit holders.

- From what I've read on this forum, it seems wise to make sure the whole car including bumpers are included in the space, not just the wheel lengths.

- White spaces, I presume, are free unlimited for all - what if no spaces are marked?

Thanks in advance,
Dave

Most blue cards have the rules written on them:
Set the time indicator to the NEXT half-hour mark after your arrival. eg: if you arrive at 4:01, set the marker to 14:30. you then have 1hr to park. The clock stops over lunchtime and between 1800 and 0800 on the next workday. So park at 1800, set the blue sign to 1800, and you can stay until 0900 on the next workday. Useful when going out in Zurich: time your car park hunting to arrive at the space at 1800, you'll find free spaces, and you can stay all night until 0900.

Yes (never seen it otherwise, and blue cards are the same everywhere, and the parking times are written on the blue card, and are not stated per canton, therefore must be national). However: observe and obey all posted signage!

With blue disc: blue zone rules apply
With valid Permit with 4-digit postcode: unlimited parking possible.

Wise yes. The rule is simple: You must park within the marked parking field. The interpretation of "within" varies a bit, but a vehicle with a 2m overhang at the rear (a truck), who just gets his rear wheels in the parking field, would hardly be considered by any stretch of the imagination to be "within" the parking field.

[QUOTE=davee;1447748]- White spaces, I presume, are free unlimited for all - what if no spaces are marked?

White = unlimited parking.

No marked spaces = observe and obey all posted signage.
If no signage whatsoever, e.g. on a country road, then park sensibly so as not to obstruct any road or pedestrian or agricultural traffic!!
I did get a sFr 40.- ticket once on a deadend country road, with no marked parking fields, but with a sign at the start of the deadend road stating "parking only in provided car parks" (which were off road and all full).

Common sense generally applies in all cases.

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This is a vague approximation:

White (no space markings) - unlimited parking
White (space markings) - usually have a number next to them - and is paid parking. Often derestricted overnight - check the parking meter.
Blue (sometime with a PLZ) - the PLZ is the area code - EG 8032 in Romerhof Zurich. Use the blue disc following the instructions on the rear.

As for parking - I have never had a ticket in Switzerland - and have always only ever parked in continuous bays with my WHEELS INSIDE - IE with bumpers overhanging. The rules (as far as I have seen) is ALL wheels on or in the lines.

Thanks guys, much appreciated - I thought I would have found the info without a new post; obviously others aren't as paranoid as I am...!

I've seen plenty in this region that are 3hrs... it says on the sign.

I hope these websites will also be helpful for getting some information on the blue zone parking rules in zürich:

http://zurich.angloinfo.com/information/70/driving.asp

http://www.astra.admin.ch/dienstleis...x.html?lang=de

Parkscheibe mit Rückseite on www.astra.admin.ch : this pdf contains the rules related to blue zone parking

And what of the yellow box with the big cross in it. Appears to indicate some sort of parking (otherwise why would it be there), but i've seen cars being ticketed when there. Is this some sort of temporary (e.g. 10 minute) spot ? Is it reserved for certain class of people (e.g. police / emergency, building owner, swiss only, rich gits....)

Usually no parking during work days/hours. Sometimes restricted to buses/coaches. There should be a sign nearby.

I got a ticket today for parking "overtime" at the blue parking lot.

I set it at 10am, and came back at 1115.
Naturally I got a nice pink slip on the window.

My question is:

What will really happen if I "ignore" or lose the slip? (eg: If someone played a prank and removed the slip without me knowing).
Will I get a bigger fine via the post etc?
There is nothing on the pink slip except the 40chf written text.

(I will pay the fine coz I deserve it, I just want to know the answer for the above).

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I had the same questions but i never found the answers. Always paid on time.

But i thought blue zones where an hour and a half

I believe maximum parking duration is 1h 29 minutes. When you arrive from 9:31 to 10:00, you set it to 10:00, and can stay until 11:00.
(well, the numbers can be 1 minute earlier than these)

The rules have been posted on EF already, but here is a repetition

During Monday-Saturday (inclusive)
- Between 8:00-11:30 and 13:30-18:00, the disc is to be set to the next half-hour mark, and parking is allowed for 1 hour from set time.
- Between 11:00-13:30, you still set the marker to the next half hour, but being lunch-break, you have until 14:30.
- Between 18:00-19:00, you need to set the marker, and can park until 09:00 the next morning.
- Between 19:00-07:59, you don't need to put the disk if you leave by 08:00.

From Saturday 18:00 until Monday 09:00, blue-zone parking is free.

Source: http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/...rkscheibe.html

The fines are explained here, and I think the plate number is registered, so, the big brother will find you. And if it is a rental/car sharing, you will have extra 'administrative charges' from the rental place. http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/...chriften1.html

You'll get a letter with a new payment slip still asking for 40 francs. I've not gone further than this stage.....you can keep a blog if you do this

I have a Swiss doctor buddy, and when we play bridge together in Stadelhofen, he parks on one of those a little towards Seefeld, from around 18-23:00. As I recall, it was next to a shop, and after 18:00, and the shop is closed, you are allowed to use it. I guess related to deliveries
But check, just to be on the safe side. There might be a plate nearby explaining the times

Today, while I was paying the fine, I saw that there was actually a small printout pasted on the underside of the ticket. I was fined because the period was 10:00-11:00 and the ticket was issued at 11:10.
Sorry.

And yes, I paid the fine. Not unhappily though, coz I guess this makes me more conscious of my time management.


Thanks, this is a really good post.

I parked in a blue zone, at 11.20 and put the dial at approximately what I thought was 11.20 because I didn't know you were supposed to put it tp the next half hour, which would have been 11.30.

I was given a fine at 13.19 and on the fine ticket, it was recorded that my parking dial was set to 11.30.

I questioned this at the police station when I paid the fine and they explained that the time on the parking fine ticket was recorded as being 11.30 because this is the time I should have set the dial to.

I then said, well surely this is included in the lunchtime period, I was told no, the lunch time period begins at 11.31.

I paid the fine, and now I am clear about the parking times for the blue zones, but beware of parking after 11 and setting your dial to 11.30 and thinking you are ok to park over lunch, because it seems to me that the parking officer may issue a fine if he feels like it.

The problem with fatih.erol post is, that it is wrong. And the police is wrong about the 11.31 as well.

But it will not help in your case.

http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/content/...rkscheibe.html

You have to set the dial to the next mark. (Which the police did).
The next mark for ACTUAL time 11.19 is DIAL time 11.30. Parking till ACTUAL time 12.30.
The next mark for ACTUAL time 11.29 is DIAL time 11.30. Parking till ACTUAL time 12.30.
The next mark for ACTUAL time 11.30 is DIAL time 12.00. Parking till ACTUAL time 14.30.
Lunchtime parking starts at ACTUAL time 11.30/ respectively DIAL time 12.00

Actual law: See Anhang 3 / Parkscheibe
http://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifie...235/index.html

PS: A park dial according to the law has the rules on its back.

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^^^^
The times referred to are the ACTUAL times - and not the marked times.

IE if you turn up at 11:19 - the marked time becomes 11:30 - and so you are good to park until 12:30

If you turn up at 11:32 - the marked time becomes 12:00 and you are good to park until 14:30

The long yellow boxes painted on the road, with a diagonal painted cross, are meant for delivery purposes. You may stop and unload and deliver or pick up, but you may not park there. You must be near the vehicle all the time. You might just avoid a ticket after 5 pm, but it's not a guarantee.