When a citation is issued to a driver and then the driver appeals the citation there is a $25 non-refundable court filing fee. Even if the driver is found not responsible to pay the citation they have still been forced to pay the court filing fee. If the driver appeals the decision again there is also a non-refundable $50 fee.

If a driver is found not responsible for a ticket then all fees should be refunded. If the officer issued the citation in error then the driver should not be forced to pay anything.

In Massachusetts Law G.L. c. 90C, § 3(A) 4 these $25 and $50 amounts are listed. I am petitioning you to amend these laws to state that they are refunded if the driver is found not responsible. Alternatively only assess the fee if the driver's appeal is unsuccessful.

To my knowledge before 2009 the $25 fee did not exist. The fee puts an unreasonable burden on drivers who are not guilty because they are forced to spend money. Every ticket written is a guaranteed $25 to the state.

In 2011 the a case for a refund went to the Supreme Judicial Court and the fees were not refunded. POLICE DEPARTMENT OF SALEM vs. RALPH C. SULLIVAN, SJC-10790, Sept. 21, 2011 More Info

MassLive article on court filing fees

It seems the only option left is to change the law.