California’s reputation for car culture comes with a heavy burden: strict traffic laws, aggressive fee structures, and a state budget that relies, at least in part, on the wallets of its drivers. A recent report highlighted just how steep the costs can get, even for minor violations, raising questions about equity and transparency in the Golden State’s justice system.
In April 2025, a driver named Kris Kahrs received a red-light violation. The fine was officially listed as $100. But when the ticket arrived, the bail amount had jumped to $486, CBS News reported. This case is not an outlier. It’s part of a widespread pattern that has affected thousands of Californians. The structure behind these inflated costs has become a symbol of broader issues within the state’s legal and financial framework.
Hidden Costs Behind Every Violation
Over the years, California lawmakers have added nearly a dozen separate charges to every traffic fine, many unrelated to driving offenses. These surcharges, designed to fund various state programs, are automatically tacked on to the base fine. One such add-on is a contribution to the Fish and Game Preservation Fund, which has no direct link to traffic enforcement.
“Feels like they’re trying to hide something,” Kris Kahrs told CBS News, echoing the frustration of many who have received these inflated citations. According to the Fines and Fees Justice Center, even a $35 ticket for rolling through a stop sign can total up to $238 once all the miscellaneous charges are included.
This layering of fees has quietly become a funding mechanism for the state. But instead of increasing revenue as intended, the system appears to be faltering.
Declining Returns for the State
The fee-heavy ticketing model was originally introduced to generate income. But state data reveals that this approach is no longer working. According to CBS, California is currently facing a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit, and its ticket revenue has been decreasing year over year.
This drop in collection isn’t because there are fewer tickets being issued. Rather, a growing number of Californians simply can’t afford to pay the full amount. Many are opting to ignore the fines altogether, knowing that the stacked fees place repayment well out of reach.
An audit conducted back in 2017 flagged these issues, describing the fee system as bloated with “arbitrary fees.” The auditor at the time advised lawmakers to scrap the entire structure and build a new one from the ground up. Eight years later, no meaningful change has occurred.
Low-Income Drivers Bear the Brunt
For wealthier Californians, a $500 ticket might be a nuisance. For others, it’s a financial crisis. The structure of California’s traffic fines hits low-income residents hardest, reinforcing inequality within the justice system.
The burden of these penalties doesn’t scale with income. While those with financial means can quickly pay and move on, others face snowballing consequences, from late fees to license suspensions, for tickets they simply cannot afford.
