Parking in the Blue zone, and not parking there

Location:Zurich

I have a car

I have paid to park in the Blue zones

In front of my apartment there is about 10 Blue zone spaces.

There are also unmarked (ticketable) spots that fit about 2 or 3 cars

On the weekends I see cars parking in these NON blue zone / Ticketable spots.

and I don't see them ticketed or towed.

my question is this.

Do the ticket people / tow people work on the weekends? Is it an unwritten rule that says I can park in these spots without worry on the weekends.

I want so badly to use these spots on the weekend when I get home from a long trip but I'm alway's worried that I'll get a ticket.

Have you checked what is actually written? There should be a notice on the meter or a separate sign - usually there are specified hours outside of which you don't need to pay for parking, and often these could include all day at weekends, or just Sundays, depending on the circumstances.

The simple answer is - yes they may do, and no there isn't.

Unwritten rules in Switzerland typically take the form of extra things you can't do, not the other way around

But as Ace1 says, there may be a written rule allowing it.

these are spots that have no lines. there is NO sign that says you can or can NOT park there. imagine it this way.... The road is 100 meters long, the blue area is 75 meters long, that leaves 25meters that has NO parking lines. people tend to park in this area on the weekends.

I'm confused. In the first post you said the other space was ticketable, and asked whether you would get caught if not using a ticket.

Now you're saying it has no lines at all?

In the latter case, maybe you can park there, but if the police think it's blocking access or is unsafe you can get fined. If they haven't put any lines, I guess there's a good chance this would be the case.

You misunderstood. By ticketable OP means you should get issued with a parking ticket (fine) if you park there and wonders why that never actually happens.

I think parking control on the weekends is pretty minimal, especially if you're not in a zone that is highly desirable for parking (e.g. within short walking distance of the high street shops). However, that doesn't make parking in the non-blue spots you describe legal, I would say park at your own risk. If it's Sunday evening with knowledge you'll leave at 7:00 on Monday, I'd probably risk it, but it's probably not a great idea to arrive at 8:00 on Saturday morning and leave the car there all weekend.

Ah, yes that also makes sense.

OP - how do you know nobody gets ticketed?

Checking is probably pretty minimal, and almost non-existent on a Sunday, so ticketing is rare. The chance of you happening to see it is even lower.

Sounds like it's a question of your risk tolerance...

I never see a ticket on the front window of the car. So I assumed they were not ticketed.

And more importantly --- I continue to see the same car in these spots often enough (not alway's just enough times to make me think they find it "safe").

And please understand, I'm not concerned about these cars - I don't mind they park there, I don't mind they don't receive a ticket..... When I return home from a long drive and I want to park in these spots to unload my car I alway's get the feeling that a cop is right around the corner and ticket / tow my car when I least expect it. So what I'm really getting at is calming my nerves in using these spots when I feel it's not going to be a problem.

As the other have said. Go and read what is stated on the parking meter. On many spots outside the city center parking is free on Sundays and Holidays. In addition you can even throw in a coin and the clock will only start ticking on Monday morning. This can give you an other hour or two of parking.

You are assuming that a street without parking indication means that by default the parking is forbidden. Isn't it the other way around within the city limit?

I don't know about Zurich specifically, but in most cities it is not (the other way round). Parking is only allowed where there are white spaces or other specific signs.

There are no meters - these 'spaces' are just parts of the street where it would be possible to park a car.

My understanding is that street parking is and always has been free on Sundays in the town of Zurich...

I know the Swiss traffic rules

Parking is allowed unless it is forbidden by the presence of signs or some other rules "basic" rules.

One of those rules is a bit unknown: Parking outside marked places is forbidden if there are marked spaces nearby (*). This rule is not in the VRV (Traffic rule ordinance) but in the SSV (Street signal ordinance) . Art. 79 Abs. 1_ter SSV

Or in other words: Yes you can be ticketed if you park at the end of blue zone spots. But as there is very likely no parking warden on Sundays you might get away with it. Fine according the price list is the usual one illegal parking offences.

No. 252.a up to 2h - CHF 40

No. 252.b up to 4h - CHF 60

No. 252.c up to 10h - CHF 100

After 10h that you get a citation and judge/prosecutor can freely decide on the fine. In addition you will get a warning from the driving license authority (or ban if you got a warning in the last 2 years.). On top of that you will have to pay some eyewatering fees. You normally only get towed when you are hindering others. You might get a clamp if you have foreign plates.

(*) The definition of nearby has been subject to some court cases. It is defined as 5 to 6 car length.

https://www.bger.ch/ext/eurospider/l...ment&zoom=YES&

https://www.bger.ch/ext/eurospider/l...=show_document

Often. But not everywhere. Be specially careful in the city center, near the lake, and around the zoo.

You can park for a maximum of 60 minutes free of charge in the 'blue zones', as they are called. Plus the rest of the half hour already begun. The clock on the mandatory parking disc must be set to the next half-hour mark after the time when you park. In a 'blue zone', you do not need a parking disc from 6.00 pm until 7.59 am.

Blue parking space

In the so-called "Blue Zone" you can park for free for one hour. Plus the half hour already started. Vehicles may be parked in the Blue Zone for one hour on weekdays and Saturdays between 08:00 and 11:30 and between 13:30 and 18:00. On Sundays and public holidays no parking disc is required. Since the parking disc is to be set to the half hour following the actual arrival time, the vehicle can be parked for longer than the allowed hour. At best, up to 29 minutes longer.

Example: Arrival 10:01, the parking disc can be set to 10:30 and you can park until 11:30. The obligatory parking disc must be set to the next half-hour mark. From 6:00 pm to 7:59 am you do not need a parking disc in the "Blue Zone".

At best it is actually 30 minutes longer. If you arrive sharp to the hour the next mark is at half past. And if you arrive at half past sharp the next mark is the one at the full hour.

This is the official rule. https://www.admin.ch/opc/de/classifi...tml#app3ahref1 and also mentioned on the parking discs. Furthermore there is a period over noon where you can park for up to 3h.