“Equal Justice Under Law” is inscribed above the main entrance to the U.S. Supreme Court, but when that justice is administered in North Carolina’s courts, equality is undermined by the inequity of court fines and fees.
In the past two decades, the legislature has piled up the costs imposed on those who pass through the court system. Those with resources can pay and move on, but for low-income and indigent defendants, the fees and fines are an ongoing and often increasing punishment.
Advocates for judicial reforms say the court fees alone have increased tenfold since 1999 from four to 45 while the basic cost of appearing in district court has nearly tripled from $61 to $176. New fees include a $75 appointment of counsel fee, a $250 community service fee and a $90 electronic monitoring fee, plus a $4.48 daily charge. If you want a payment plan there’s a fee for that…
