GK Chesterton, one of my philosophical/intellectual idols, once opined that fines and taxes were essentially the same thing in that they were both payments rendered for having done something. The fundamental difference, as far as Chesterton could tell, is that, "fines are usually less."
I see "licensing," as a third leg of this concept with the added absurdity that you must first demonstrate that you can do something before you get to pay a fee in order to do it legally.