Santa Cruz — SUPTMV-051

Source: https://www.santacruz.courts.ca.gov/system/files/forms-and-filings/web-suptmv-051-why-your-bail-or-court-fine-so-much-accessible.pdf

Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz Justice With Dignity and Respect

Why is Your Bail or Fine So Much?

The cost of your ticket includes the base bail/fine along with the penalties and assessments required to be collected by law. If you are convicted of more than one charge, the penalties and assessments may be added for each convicted violation.

What is a Penalty Assessment? It is an amount added to the base bail/fine amount on infraction, misdemeanor and felony offenses. This amount is set by the California State Legislature. The current penalty assessment is $29. The penalty assessments are calculated on every $10, or portion of $10 of your base bail/fine.

The $29 assessment is calculated as follows:
Penal Code 1464 State Penalty Fund $10.00
Govt. Code 70372(a) State Court Construction Fund $ 5.00
Govt. Code 76104.6/76104.7 DNA Identification Fund $ 5.00
Govt. Code 76000(e) County Penalty Fund $ 7.00
Govt. Code 76000.5 Emergency Medical Services $ 2.00

What Other Assessments Are Added? • $40 court operations fee is added for each infraction, misdemeanor, or felony violation resulting in a conviction pursuant to Penal Code 1465.8 • $30 assessment for each convicted misdemeanor or felony violation and $35 for each convicted infraction violation pursuant to Government Code 70373 • A 20% State Surcharge imposed on the base bail/fine amount. This 20% may NOT be used to calculate the penalty assessment for each $10 of the fine. • If your conviction requires the DMV to keep track of the charges for priors, a $10 fee is added. Vehicle Code 40508.6(a)

Example Calculation for Vehicle Code Violation: Where the money goes: • Base/bail fine amount $ 35.00 • See breakdown above Additional Penalties based on 4 $10 increments • State General Fund • Additional penalties $ 116.00 • State Court building construction and maintenance fund • Surcharge 20% of base bail/fine $ 7.00 • To fund trial court operations • Conviction assessment $ 35.00 • To Court • Court Operations assessment $ 40.00 • DMV $ 10.00 (only assessed when priors are tracked) Total Amount $ 243.00

Traffic School The Court charges an Administrative Fee to attend Traffic School in addition to the total bail amount charged for your ticket. This does not include the cost of attending a specific traffic school, which is a separate fee paid directly to the selected school for their services. This fee is currently $52.

Proof of Correction When submitting proof of correction on a correctable violation, the fee is $25 for each correctable violation for which you were cited.

The Court’s Responsibility The Superior Court is required to follow the laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. The penalties and assessments listed come from such laws. The Superior Court is not responsible for creating those laws. If you are concerned with the amount of your fine, contact your state legislator.

Form Adopted for OPTIONAL USE WHY IS YOUR BAIL FINE SO MUCH? Page 1 of 2 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County SUPTMV 051 2/10/26

Superior Court of California, County of Santa Cruz Justice With Dignity and Respect

Base Bail/Fine Distribution per Penal Code 1463.002

Penal Code section 1463.002 sets a schedule for distribution of the base bail/fine for each violation
issued within a particular jurisdiction. A city and county may enter into a mutual agreement adjusting
the percentages established by P.C. 1463.002. Below is the distribution schedule in effect in Santa
Cruz County. The amounts below are taken after the 2% is distributed to the court automation fund.

Capitola:
City of Capitola 79%
County of Santa Cruz 21%

Santa Cruz County:
County of Santa Cruz 100%

City of Santa Cruz:
City of Santa Cruz 77%
County of Santa Cruz 23%

Scotts Valley:
City of Scotts Valley 78%
County of Santa Cruz 22%

Watsonville:
City of Watsonville 79%
County of Santa Cruz 21%

University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC):
UCSC 100%

Example of Distribution of Base Bail/Fine:

Base bail $35.00
City of Santa Cruz $26.95
County of Santa Cruz $ 8.05

Form Adopted for OPTIONAL USE WHY IS YOUR BAIL FINE SO MUCH? Page 1 of 2 Superior Court of Santa Cruz County SUPTMV 051 2/10/26