BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Fire Department is asking to be relieved of more than $100,000 in unpaid firework citations.
In a memo to Kern County Supervisors, the department said it "pursued all possible avenues" to collect the $1,500 for each of the 80 fireworks citations issued from 2007 through 2011, but in many instances, only a portion of the fine was recovered.
Therefore, Kern County Fire Chief Brian Marshall is asking the county to release the fire department from having to pay the fireworks fines, totaling $101,420.
Names of those who have not paid fireworks fees, according to county fire, can be found here.
One of the persons listed as having unpaid fines is Justin Alexander Merrick; a man with the same name and zip code was arrested Tuesday in connection to a honey oil lab raid in Northwest Bakersfield.
The county is set to approve the fire department's request on Tuesday at its board meeting.
