Determining whether a ticket is a city or a county arrest is not really that simple. Other factors determine whether an arrest is a city or county arrest. It is also a city arrest if a CHP officer makes an arrest in a city, or when the sheriff makes an arrest in a city that contracts with the county for police services. Arrests made by deputy sheriffs in non-contract cities, or in the unincorporated parts of Kern County, are county arrests. Revenues deposited in motor vehicle accounts can be spent for traffic safety efforts.
Agencies have more flexibility at spending revenues deposited in general fund accounts.
By statute, California created the first penalty assessment in the late 1960's. Over the years, the penalty assessment has increased to the point that it is now larger than the fine. This bill is called the Trial Court Funding Act of 1997 and shifts the responsibility of funding trial courts from the County to the State. Some of the revenue collected in fines, fees and forfeitures that was previously sent to the State was redirected to the County. We pay a portion to the State of California, while the balance of the revenue goes to the County of Kern.