Being arrested for a crime is not just about defending the charges; there are also fines and costs that are charged to the defendant. Most times these fees are higher than what many people can afford and a lot of criminal defendants find themselves having to make a choice whether to pay their court costs and fines or pay their bills. This is not a financial situation anyone wants to be, but there is help.
A common way to resolve criminal cases is by going on probation, but there is a cost associated with probation. There are monthly fees that must be paid, and these can be in addition to the costs charged by the Court for the case. While it might be tempting to skip a payment here and there so you can pay other expenses, here are three ways failing to pay fines can hurt you:
- Failing to pay a fine can be considered a violation of probation. If you are charged with this type of violation your probation can be revoked. This means you face the full range of punishment for the original crime charged against you.
- You can be placed in jail for failing to pay your fines.
- Skipping payments does not mean they are no longer due, they are simply added to the next month’s fines. So the more you skip, the larger your balance will become. It is much more difficult to pay thousands of dollars at once to clear up the missing payments than it is to pay the fine in smaller increments on a monthly basis.
We understand the economy is in bad shape and that it is hard to make ends meet. We also understand the cost of litigation can be high, but working out agreements on every aspect of your case includes negotiating a payment plan that fits your budget. If you have been arrested for a crime and are having a hard time paying the fees and costs, call us for help. Our goal is to keep you out of jail and to have a payment plan implemented that works for you. Contact our office today to learn more.
For more information about how to pay your court costs and fines, call an experienced defense attorney in Stuart and the Treasure Coast. We offer an initial consultation for no charge, and look forward to working with you.