This is how things are in a huge number of communities. The government budget counts on the fees they charge people for a minor infraction then late fees on top of late fees on top of jail fees. It is one of the things that people were protesting in Ferguson, Missouri USA when Michael Brown was killed by an asshat cop. The judges would give fines so that their salaries could be paid by the budget propped up by the fines they gave. Legal Extortion.