On the ticket this prints as: EXPIRED MUNI METER or EXPIRED MUNI MTR-COMM MTR ZN
The classic: your paid time expired before you returned. Includes the commercial-zone variant.
42.3%
of contested cases are dismissed outright — and 68.9% end dismissed or reduced. From 1,054,536 decided hearings in the city's own records.
Is it worth fighting?
Surprisingly, a majority of drivers who contest this walk away paying less or nothing — the city's records show over half of decided hearings end in dismissal. Wins come from receipts that contradict the ticket's timing, defective ticket details, and meters that were out of order.
What actually wins
Your receipt or app session actually covered the ticket time — timing disputes are common and the paper wins
The meter was out of order and no working meter was reasonably available (NYC rules address broken meters — photograph everything)
You were at the vehicle actively loading/unloading passengers when written
Fighting it is free. New York lets you dispute online, by mail, or in person — no fee, no lawyer required, decision from a hearing officer. Start at nyc.gov → Dispute a ticket. Check the response deadline printed on your ticket, and answer before it to avoid late penalties.