How can it be fair to have up to a $150,000 penalty at stake when going to trial, yet allow a $750 penalty to suffice if not going to trial? I'd pay $750 even

How can it be fair to have up to a $150,000 penalty at stake when going to trial, yet allow a $750 penalty to suffice if not going to trial? I'd pay $750 even if I was fully innocent, just because the massive risk of losing and lawyers fees just can't be worth it. That seems unbalanced.