Two Pennsylvania police chiefs have spoken out against the lofty fees associated with traffic violations.

Millville Police Chief Ted Stout and Orangeville Police Chief Steve Rothermel, both located near Bloomsburg, said the extra costs added to traffic fines are too high.

They said as the basic $25 fines rise to over $100 with costs, it hinders police's ability to enforce the laws.

State College Police Officer Tony Lopinsky said the $25 fine is reasonable, and thinks the additional costs are necessary.

He said they help get the point of the violation across to drivers.

"They don't understand until they have to pay $103.50," Lopinsky said.

That figure is often the cost of a vehicle code violation after extra fees are imposed.

The actual "punishment" is $25, without the added costs, Lopinsky said.

On top of that, there are Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Catastrophic Loss Trust (CAT) Fund fees that can be added.

There are also charges for court operation costs and a Judicial Computer Project fund cost.

The EMS fund provides grants to pre-hospital emergency care providers such as ambulance services.

The CAT fund was instituted when Pennsylvania's "no fault" insurance program ran out.

The "no fault" program was intended to provide long-term care for people who received life-long injuries.

District Justice Carmine Prestia said that the need for the CAT fund is something often disputed in the state legislature.

Prestia agrees with Rothermel and Stout that the multiple costs that are added on top of a base fine can be excessive.

"I don't like some of these costs either," Prestia said. "I think they're too high."

He added, however, that as a former police officer he did not think the price of fines would interfere with enforcement of the laws.

Bridget Irani (junior-advertising) said she received a ticket on Interstate 80 for passing a police officer while going 2 mph over the speed limit.

Her total costs amounted to $106.

"The fees are overshadowing the offense," Irani said.

"You're basically just paying the state for more than the crime committed."

Rothermel and Stout said the state only cares about collecting money, and not enforcing the laws.

Lopinsky, however, said if that were the case, Pennsylvania would have traffic violation quotas -- which the state does not.

"I think [the state] wants the laws enforced," he said. "We see violations and it becomes the officer's initiative to decide whether or not the person should receive a citation or warning."

Major traffic offenses, such as reckless driving or violations of school bus laws, include higher punishment fines.

As of the 2001 vehicle code, Lopinsky said the reckless driving fine is $200.

The fine for passing a school bus with blinking lights is $25.

In addition, Passing a bus is punishable with a 60-day license suspension.

Lopinsky said larger fines for bigger offenses only make sense when thinking of the nature of the offenses.

With all the fines and costs associated with fees, there will always be a large number of people complaining that they are too high, Prestia said.

He said multiple people usually inquire about the costs and fines in a given week.

For that reason, Prestia said, he made a sheet that explains the costs to the public.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.