Not true.
I have a parking ticket. If I fail to pay my fine in advance and fail to appear in court, I am presumed guilty and have an additional fine.
That's why I just put a check in the mail.
What you will be fined for is not appearing in court
when the court summoned you. But we don't summon people in BM, we
invite them. The "if you want" means "you can not want". I'm sure your letter from the court didn't read "if you want".
