Numerous Fees Hike Up Traffic Ticket Costs

Tuesday April 14, 2009

According to recent evaluations, many drivers are actually paying up to four times the amount of the actual cost of their traffic tickets in fees. A ticket that originally costs the driver $100 can rapidly escalate to $500. Many individuals are struggling to pay these fees, and are beginning to wonder where exactly they go.

Many of the fees actually go to promote programs that encourage safe driving and others go to cover the administrative costs of filing paperwork and holding hearings for contested offenses. However, many drivers have complained about the high prices of tickets, calling them exorbitant and unnecessary.

The following are common fees that can be tacked onto a $45 ticket for a minor traffic infraction, such as speeding or running a red light:

• Criminal Justice Construction- $10
• Courthouse Construction- $12
• Forensic Laboratory- 50 cents
• Automated Fingerprint- $2.50
• Emergency Medical Fund- $10
• Emergency Medical Service- $10
• DNA Identification- $5
• DNA State Penalty Fund- $5
• State Courthouse Construction- $13
• Immediate Needs Construction- $12
• State Surcharge Criminal- $9
• Court Fee Security- $20
• State Penalty Assessment- $50
• Immediate Needs Infraction- $35
• Night Court- $1
• DMV Assessment- $10

Sources: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_fines13.426f4...