How does appearing at arraignment effect court costs?
If you have been charged with a “payable” offense you do not need to appear in court if you simply wish to pay the ticket. By appearing in court, you will automatically be subject to court costs for an initial appearance. This could cause a ticket to be more expensive than it would have been if you had paid it by mail. For example, a minor misdemeanor speeding offense can carry a possible fine of $0-150. With court costs, a total penalty could be $75 – $225. Paying the ticket is the same as entering a guilty plea. If you wish to pay the ticket but you need time to do so, you can appear at arraignment court and ask for time to pay. You will need to enter a guilty or no-contest plea to the offense you have been charged with, but the presiding judicial officer will give you up to 90 days to pay the ticket at his or her discretion. By appearing at arraignment you will be subject to court costs.
