that's the same thing that happens in most cases - with the exception of the attorney's fees part.  Didn't you ever get hit with court costs as part of a traffic ticket?  But if you just pay and don't contest, you don't get the costs, just the fine.  It's a way of discouraging frivolous defenses, although I agree it's waaaay overused, and this case is a gross overuse.  But those hearing officers do cost $$.