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For every traffic ticket or criminal conviction that gets handed down in New York, no matter how minor, courts attach mandatory fees (or surcharges) on top of any fine or sentence imposed. These fees alone can total hundreds of dollars, and the law offers no way for those who cannot afford to pay their fees to have them waived. The amount of the fees has only increased over the past several decades, outpacing the rate of inflation.

Paying off just one traffic ticket and its associated court fees can mean missing rent, going without food, and losing healthcare. Those who can’t afford to pay these fines and fees live with the constant fear of being arrested and jailed.