That $480+ red light ticket is actually the product of, get this, a $100 “base” fine. Gradually over the years the state legislature has added various penalties assessments and fees for various programs that have slowly but surely increased the cost of all traffic tickets. The dramatic increase in traffic fines has been a sort of hidden tax – lawmakers want to boost state revenue but dread the political fallout from simply raising taxes. Additional fines through traffic tickets are a terrific way to reduce the budget without having to admit they have raised taxes.