The per capita traffic fines revenue is approximately 9 percent lower during sheriff election years.
The political budget cycle theory is the idea that elected officials change how they manage public money in the period immediately before elections to improve their chances of getting reelected. Drawing from the political budget cycle theory, the authors investigate whether county sheriffs manipulate traffic enforcement practices for electoral advantage. The researchers emphasize that sheriffs possess substantial autonomy in traffic enforcement, enabling them to control policy and its implementation with minimal external constraints. Using panel data from 57 California counties between 2003 and 2020, the study reveals a significant decline in traffic revenue during sheriff election years. They also found the decline short-lived, and fine revenue rebounded immediately after elections. The authors suggest that opportunistic timing of enforcement undermines public trust and the legitimacy of law enforcement.
You can read the full text here.