When may a judge waive fines and costs?

• A. Never
• B. After defaults, indigent, and unable to perform community service
• C. Only before payment
• D. Only with probation

Answer: (B)

Fines and costs can be waived when the person cannot afford to pay and shows financial hardship. A judge has discretion to relieve those amounts, especially if the defendant is indigent, has defaulted on payment, and cannot perform required community service. This reflects tailoring consequences to ability to pay rather than imposing punishment that isn’t feasible due to lack of resources. The waiver isn’t limited to never happening, nor restricted to before payment, nor solely tied to probation; relief is appropriate when financial hardship and inability to satisfy payment or service obligations are clear.