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Old 03-10-2013, 03:21 PM
 
Location: Metro Washington DC
15,427 posts, read 25,795,620 times
Reputation: 10450

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I screwed up and crossed a solid line just prior to where it becomes a dashed line. It just so happened that an unmarked cop was right there to get me. I did it and I will take my medicine (pay the fine), but what on earth is the CONVENIENCE FEE ($62) on the citation? In other words, the fine is $30, but the $62 fee added in makes it $92. What is it for? I don't see an explanation for what it is for on the sheet that came with the ticket.
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Old 03-10-2013, 03:30 PM
 
Location: New-Dentist Colony
5,759 posts, read 10,719,093 times
Reputation: 3955
Don't know what jurisdiction gave you the ticket, but I got one in Arlington recently and had the same reaction. I was speeding and can't complain about getting penalized for that, but to get hit with some BS fee on top of the penalty just seems wrong somehow.

BTW, this fee used to be called "court cost." Now they charge you whether you contest the ticket or not. So you might as well take time off and contest it, 'cause you have nothing to lose other than some of your leave.
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Old 03-10-2013, 04:31 PM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,234,258 times
Reputation: 7464
Is is court costs. Every jurisdiction has this. If you are found not guilty then you do not pay this cost. If you pre-pay or are found guilty you pay. The judge can reduce or even eliminate the fine but not the court costs. I worked in the court system for about 18 months before becoming a police officer and then for a few months after I retired. There really is a lot that goes on behind the scenes in the clerks offices. I don't believe the cost is an unjustified one.
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Old 03-10-2013, 04:50 PM
 
Location: New-Dentist Colony
5,759 posts, read 10,719,093 times
Reputation: 3955
I would have no beef with the court cost if they only charged it when you, you know, showed up at court to contest the ticket.
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Old 03-10-2013, 06:30 PM
 
Location: Metro Washington DC
15,427 posts, read 25,795,620 times
Reputation: 10450
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlingtonian View Post
I would have no beef with the court cost if they only charged it when you, you know, showed up at court to contest the ticket.
Same here. I could jut pay online. They want me to pay court costs when I have no plan to even go to court. It's twice the actual fine!

BTW: Unmarked State Trooper.
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Old 03-10-2013, 06:47 PM
 
Location: Alexandria, VA
15,142 posts, read 27,760,706 times
Reputation: 27255
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkf747 View Post
I screwed up and crossed a solid line just prior to where it becomes a dashed line. It just so happened that an unmarked cop was right there to get me. I did it and I will take my medicine (pay the fine), but what on earth is the CONVENIENCE FEE ($62) on the citation? In other words, the fine is $30, but the $62 fee added in makes it $92. What is it for? I don't see an explanation for what it is for on the sheet that came with the ticket.
That stinks - whose convenience? Pay the fine and tell them the $30 is most convenient for you
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Old 03-10-2013, 07:42 PM
 
979 posts, read 1,774,985 times
Reputation: 661
That's terrible wording. I've paid tickets with an "administrative fee" or something such as that, which makes more sense to me. "Convenience fee" sounds like something that should only be charged if you pay online or something (you know, a more "convenient" option).
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Old 03-11-2013, 02:36 AM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,234,258 times
Reputation: 7464
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlingtonian View Post
I would have no beef with the court cost if they only charged it when you, you know, showed up at court to contest the ticket.

The clerks behind the scene do the same amount of work whether you show up to contest the ticket or not.
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Old 03-11-2013, 04:00 AM
 
9,873 posts, read 14,112,458 times
Reputation: 21747
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigfoot424 View Post
The clerks behind the scene do the same amount of work whether you show up to contest the ticket or not.
I can understand that; so what does the actual "penalty fee" cost cover?
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Old 03-11-2013, 04:43 AM
 
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
14,129 posts, read 31,238,974 times
Reputation: 6920
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigfoot424 View Post
The clerks behind the scene do the same amount of work whether you show up to contest the ticket or not.
The clerks and the rest of the court system is paid for from the general fund and in some cases also that of the local government's, not court fees. Likewise fines and court costs go into the general fund but the amount of one has nothing to do with the other.

Fee based funding of courts in VA ended over 20 years ago at the circuit level and 40 years ago at the district level.

http://jlarc.virginia.gov/reports/Rpt393.pdf

It's called a convenience fee because it's more convenient for elected officials to raise revenue this way than by increasing income and sales taxes. Who's going to be against taxing criminals?

Last edited by CAVA1990; 03-11-2013 at 05:02 AM..
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