This goes under the category of games that courts play.
If you have a misdemeanor case in Comal County, here's the lowdown on the infamous $250.00 mentioned in those pink pieces of paper mailed out by the court: In every first court date notice sent out by the Comal County Court-at-Law, there is a sentence that mentions that court costs are due at the time of sentencing and that court costs usually run $250.00. No other explanation is given. This notice creates a huge amount of confusion.
How do I know this? I know because I get asked about it by potential clients at least once a week. Many people going to court for the first time mistakenly read this notice to mean that they are being ordered to bring 250 bucks with them or else they will be in immediate trouble with the court. What the notice does not explain is that a person cannot be "sentenced" in a case unless and until the person has been found convicted or placed on probation. Even if a person eventually accepts a plea bargain offer in his case, this may not happen for months down the line. Second, the notice fails to say that the court routinely grants payment plans for fines and court costs, if requested.
In addition, many people also mistakenly believe after reading these notices that $250.00 is the only penalty for their cases, only to go to court armed with $250.00 and to discover that there are additional fines, probation, jail, driver's license suspension, etc. I know of no other court in the area that sends out such a notice. Why would a court send out a notice letter that is so confusing and misleading? As much as being cynical goes against my nature as a criminal defense lawyer, maybe, just maybe, the court wants to get ahold of your $250.00. Just maybe it wants people running into court thinking that they can dispose of their cases quickly and easily, and with few consequences, if they just bring a few hundred bucks with them. Moral of the story -- hang onto your $250.00 until your attorney advises you what you should do with your case. Then let your attorney request a payment plan if one is warranted.