Rapper DMX has had a run-in with the law but is refusing to use a plea bargain as a quick and simple way out.

The star believes that he is being treated unfairly after he was fined $25,000 for motoring offences. Although the case would have been over had DMX, whose real name is Earl Simmons, paid up the money when he appeared in court, the singer refused to hand over any money, arguing that the amount was excessive.

"It's not fair - $25,000 for traffic tickets? Come on. Let's keep it real,' he commented as he left court.

The hip hop star has seen the amount spiral after missing several previous court appearances and the failure to pay up landed him with a night in jail at the end of June. He was released from Westchester County Jail the following day when acting state Supreme Court justice Richard Molea agreed to the star paying a $2,500 bond instead of the full $25,000 bail.

Following another court appearance on Monday of this week, DMX's lawyer Murray Richman revealed to the White Rock Journal News that the rapper had refused a plea bargain, although no details of the proposed deal were re released. DMX himself highlighted his concern over the size of the fine, commenting: "I don't feel good about this at all."

The rapper clearly feels that he is being prejudiced against and as such is looking to take a stand against what he considers to be an excessive charge. However, if the courts refuse to see his side of the argument DMX may find himself back in jail in the near future, possibly for more than one night.

This saga has spiralled out of all control following what seemed to be a relatively routine driving incident involving DMX back on June 2nd. Then the star was arrested by police who claimed he had been speeding. While in most cases this would have been a fairly straightforward event with DMX being issued with a fine, it proved to be the catalyst for a series of allegations against the 35-year-old rapper.

First, the police discovered that DMX's New York licence had been suspended, meaning that he should not have been on the road in the first place. He was then charged with a whole host of offences, including with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanour, and issued a ticket accusing him of unsafe lane change violations, as well as the original speeding offence.

The court has postponed the trial until August 25th but believes that the matter should be resolved without coming to trial. If he refuses to back down over the issue, however, DMX could spend up to 180 days in prison for the offences.