BOSTON -- In yet another effort to beef up the state budget in lean economic times, the Massachusetts court system is now charging drivers to contest their traffic tickets. It's a legislative edict that has many drivers outraged about having to pay for their day in court.

At Boston Municipal Court, drivers have their say before a court clerk in hopes that their tickets will be waived. But now that chance to be heard costs $25. If you choose to appeal the clerk's decision before a judge, that will cost even $50 more.

"Thank God, they let it go and I don't have to pay anything," said one driver. "But it makes no sense to have to pay for a hearing."

"I think it's totally unfair and I think it's ridiculous," said another driver. "I think it's a revenue catcher."

Last summer, the Legislature passed a bill that tags all moving violations with a hearing fee schedule. It's the state's way of bringing in money to offset its budget cuts to the courts. One lawyer leaving court said it was a border line violation of due process.

"They do express anger, throwing paper, throwing documents, kicking the door," said Dan Hogan, Clerk Magistrate for Boston Municipal Court.

The court is highly motivated to get people in and out quickly, because the more visitors the better the bottom line. The funds are shared between the state general funds and the courts.

The Boston Municipal Court hears about 100 appeals a day. Since the new fee started in July, there's been an uptick in no shows.

"The fee is not unreasonable because the cost to the taxpayer for copying and the mailing is extraordinary," said Hogan.

There were more than 204,000 magistrate hearings scheduled last year in the district court system. Multiply that by $25 and the tally is $5,100,000. Eighteen thousand appeals before a judge were scheduled last year. At the new hearing fee of $50, that brings in around $900,000. It's a revenue sources say no one wants to enforce. But now the law, and the economy, demand it.

"It's one of the ways they are looking at to try to deal with the economic downturn," said Gov. Deval Patrick. "I'm not happy about it. No one's happy about new fees."