It's not just Alabama. The national trend in courts is to make defendants pay the costs. But Alabama bought in big. The Legislature cut funding for courts and services, and hiked fees so "users" pay the brunt.
Lawmakers and cities love it. They don't have to raise taxes, and everybody's happy. Except for the bums in the system. And nobody listens to them.
They're right. People still run afoul of the law. Those able to pay the fines and increasing fees can put it in the rear view and never look back. Others - those who can't afford it -- pay a heavy price.
Everybody's looking for a buck. Cities employ red light cameras to churn money, and set up speed traps on the road to the beach. They raise fees for petty offenses and roll 777s when they collect.
The fine for driving the wrong way on a one-way street in Birmingham is $60. With fees it's $230.
But the fine for failing to pick up your dog's poop -- "Failure to Properly Dispose of Dog Excrement" - is $100. With fees it's $371.
That's some poop, there.
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/10/alabama_screws_the_poor_and_wh.html#incart_river_home