California traffic tickets are quietly inflated by numerous hidden fees, turning minor violations into substantial financial burdens. A $100 red light ticket, for example, can balloon to nearly $500 with various add-ons, many of which are unrelated to traffic safety, including funding for wildlife preservation. This practice, criticized by a state audit nearly a decade ago for being arbitrary and disconnected from offenses, disproportionately harms low-income drivers who struggle to pay the inflated costs. Despite calls for reform, the system persists, functioning as a revenue-generating tool that ensnares vulnerable populations and leads to cascading financial penalties, including license suspensions, while state officials express unawareness of the extent of the problem.