diff --git a/app/src/screens/StartSessionScreen.tsx b/app/src/screens/StartSessionScreen.tsx
index 3e48b1e..3b44c6a 100644
--- a/app/src/screens/StartSessionScreen.tsx
+++ b/app/src/screens/StartSessionScreen.tsx
@@ -51,6 +51,13 @@ export function StartSessionScreen() {
   const { zone } = useRoute<SessionRoute>().params;
   const space = zone.Spaces?.[0];
 
+  // The policy in effect right now (CurrentSlot). Drives whether paid parking is
+  // even applicable — some windows are Free or No Parking (per the meter's schedule).
+  const currentPolicy = space?.Policies?.find((p) => p.CurrentSlot);
+  const currentType = (currentPolicy?.RateType ?? '').toLowerCase();
+  const currentlyFree = currentType.includes('free');
+  const noParkingNow = currentType.includes('no parking');
+
   const [vehicles, setVehicles] = useState<VehicleDetail[]>([]);
   const [cards, setCards] = useState<CreditCardDetail[]>([]);
   const [vehicleId, setVehicleId] = useState<number | undefined>();
@@ -169,6 +176,32 @@ export function StartSessionScreen() {
     }
   };
 
+  // When the current time-of-day policy is Free or No Parking, paid parking
+  // doesn't apply — show the status instead of a purchase flow (matches the app).
+  if (currentlyFree || noParkingNow) {
+    return (
+      <View style={[styles.center, { backgroundColor: colors.bg, padding: 24 }]}>
+        <Text style={[styles.zone, { color: colors.text }]}>{zone.ZoneName}</Text>
+        <View
+          style={[
+            styles.freeBanner,
+            { backgroundColor: currentlyFree ? '#e8f5e9' : '#fdecea', marginTop: 16, alignSelf: 'stretch' },
+          ]}
+        >
+          <Text style={{ color: currentlyFree ? '#2e7d32' : '#c0392b', fontWeight: '700', fontSize: 16 }}>
+            {currentlyFree ? 'Parking is currently free' : 'No parking allowed right now'}
+          </Text>
+          {currentPolicy?.MessageText && currentPolicy.MessageText !== 'null' ? (
+            <Text style={{ color: colors.subtext, marginTop: 6 }}>{currentPolicy.MessageText}</Text>
+          ) : null}
+          {currentPolicy?.DisplayString ? (
+            <Text style={{ color: colors.subtext, marginTop: 4 }}>{currentPolicy.DisplayString}</Text>
+          ) : null}
+        </View>
+      </View>
+    );
+  }
+
   if (loading && !ladder.length) {
     return (
       <View style={[styles.center, { backgroundColor: colors.bg }]}>