COURT COSTS - NO - let me pay the fine

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
[email protected]
13347901729
Date: Apr 01 2021 10:31 AM

ASHFORD:    Today was the day for Ashford Municipal Court. Before cases are called Judge Black discusses options with the persons present for court.

Judge Black discusses the defendant's right to enter not guilty, guilty, public defender, youthful offender and all of the various options available to a defendant in a case before the court.

Judge Black pointed out one interesting fact, which I knew, but alerted me the public needs to know about this.

When people seek office for Alabama Legislature, Senate and House Member, they love to be able to make the statement " I will not raise your taxes " and as election time rolls around to say " I did not raise your taxes ". 

When a officer writes you a speeding ticket and you pay it there is a court cost fee that is mandatory. Sometimes the Judge will say the case will be dismissed on payment of costs. 

NO JUDGE, let me pay the fine and dismiss the court costs.

For a speeding ticket the actual fine is only $ 20.00. The ticket is like $ 204.50. Of that court costs is $ 184.50.

Court Cost is a mandatory fee, no matter if you go to court or not.

BUT WAIT   the court costs does not all go to the court. It goes a little here, there and most everywhere but the court. But the court cost is mandated by the Alabama Legislature to charge in cases.

Like Judge Black said, if you are found guilty of the violation, do not get mad to Ashford. The money is set by the Alabama Legislature, the majority of what is paid is the court costs, mandated by the Alabama Legislature and the Judge is without authority to cut the court costs. The fine maybe, but not the court costs.

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