No, you probably can't. But, when was this written? In what alternate universe does 100 of today's dollars equate to anything like an equivalent punishment of six months in the pokey?
1967, apparantly. Back in the old days of (Mayor) Walter Washington.
For some desperate people on thier last dime, putting $100 fine against six months of three squares a day, shower, toothpaste, and free rent, I guess it could be a no brainer. Particularly with DC heading into the cold months and those steam grates for all-nighters are not what they are all hyped up to be.