What did John have to pay due to his ticket?

The correct choice is that John had to pay a fine due to his ticket. In the context of receiving a ticket, particularly from law enforcement, a fine is a monetary charge imposed as a consequence of violating a law or regulation, such as traffic laws. It serves as punishment and often aims to discourage further violations.

The other terms, while related to monetary charges, do not accurately convey the specific nature of what someone pays when they receive a ticket. A fee typically refers to a charge for services, a penalty can imply a broader range of punishments beyond just monetary payment, and a tax is a compulsory financial charge imposed by the government that supports public services and infrastructure, rather than a direct consequence of an individual action like receiving a ticket.