If theft under $20 is a misdemeanor, a citation, basically, then what happens when the offender, who is caught red-handed, ignores court orders to pay the fine, refuses to come to court when summoned, and consequently racks up other contempt charges? Call him a 'bad boy' and make it all good?
It was a $20 fine but $150 court costs added.
“If theft under $20 is a misdemeanor, a citation, basically, then what happens when the offender, who is caught red-handed, ignores court orders to pay the fine, refuses to come to court when summoned, and consequently racks up other contempt charges?”
Contempt is a different matter from not paying the fines. Contempt is a criminal matter, while not paying fines is not criminal. Everyone else in this country gets along just fine without using criminal punishments to collect their debts, why can’t government do the same?