CALIFORNIA - Fees stack up, boost cost of traffic tickets

OFF THE WIRE

 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/10/4253074/back-seat-driver-fees-stack-up.html
 We hear often from drivers who suffer sticker shock when they're pulled over by police and handed a ticket for a moving violation.
The actual cost is far more than many drivers had thought it was going to be.
Take, for instance, when the state passed its handheld cellphone ban a few years ago. Officials trumpeted the fine as $20. More than a few drivers think: What the heck. Worth the risk. But $20 is just the base fine. They call us screaming when they discover the real cost: $166.
When you pay a citation, you aren't just paying for your errant act. The Legislature has, for years, been adding fees to finance dozens of programs, some that aren't even related to driving safety.
Let's look at one of the most common citations in Sacramento County – running a stop sign. That's Vehicle Code Section 22450. The base fine is $35. But you'll pay $236.
Here's the money trail:
The $35 base fine goes mainly to city and county general funds. Those general funds supply the police and sheriff budgets.
If the CHP tickets you, that $35 still goes to the local city and county, not to the CHP.
But the state, along with the county, makes a bundle off you nonetheless, thanks to an $80 state penalty assessment that's tacked on.
Much of that $80 goes to the state's trial court fund and the state courts construction fund. Ten dollars of it goes to the local county's general fund, to be used any way the county wishes. Some of it gets put into the county courthouse construction fund. Seven of those dollars go to the county's jail construction fund. A few dollars go to the county fingerprint fund, and $7 goes to an account that reimburses doctors and hospitals for unpaid emergency care for crash victims and others.
Then comes another set of charges:
You'll chip $7 directly into the state general fund via what's called the state criminal surcharge. (Who says crime doesn't pay?)
They even charge you $10 to reimburse the county court for the cost of searching the DMV database to see if you have prior convictions.
There's $8 you pay into a state court construction fund called the Immediate and Critical Needs Account.
And add on a $4 fee for the Emergency Air Medical Transportation Act.
Is that it? Nope.
You pay a "criminal conviction assessment" of $35 that also helps pay for state court construction.
You also pay $40 for what used to be the local court security fee (such as X-ray machines at the doors). It's been expanded to cover court operations costs.
You'll chip $16 into the state's DNA testing program. Finally, you pay $1 to fund the county night court.
Here's an idea: When you come to stop signs, do your wallet a favor. Stop.
***I read that as $236  in fees added on.   Say it is not about money.