Here in NY the failure to pay a fine can only lead to imprisonment if there is a finding of a wilfull failure to pay (the court must find that the person has the ability to pay the fine). Most fines are collected at the time of sentencing or shortly thereafter, not at the end of a jail or prison sentence (when almost no one would be able to pay). There is also provision in the law to convert a fine to a civil judgment.

Where a fine is not paid it may be a condition of parole or probation that the person pay the fine, since most parole or probation programs require the person to maintain employment there is usually an ability to at least make payments toward the fine.