I don't think you get what I was saying. I'm not debating the definition of the word "fee."
I'm saying that in most states in the USA, there's often a fee for many things that can get gotten completely for free if you prove your income is low enough.
So I guess you could say you "pay a fee" of the extra time and hassle to prove your low income. But for something like a state ID, for instance, you can get one absolutely free (no money paid) if your income is low enough.
I believe OP's point was that the title says "Teacher accused of sex with students." It should read "Teacher accused of raping students"
One small point to correct/adjust is the idea that these sites were "ignored."
The pyramids have been a tourist attraction for thousands of years. The Romans talked about visiting them. I'm guessing there was never a time when they weren't of interest to people in the area. Same for something like the Colosseum, Parthenon, or Pantheon. They might not have always prioritized preservation, but they certainly didn't forget they existed.
Reverse. It's only a fee if you can afford it. If you can't afford it, it's free.
Ah yes. "If you're rich, nothing is illegal, there's just a fee"
That's definitely a thing, but something different.