(a) The Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund is hereby created.

(b) The moneys deposited to the credit of the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund which are appropriated in the Budget Act or any other appropriation act for the support of or expenditure by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall be expended by the department in carrying out the provisions of this code and in enforcing any other laws relating to vehicles or the use of highways.

Regularly employed peace officers of the department may, when authorized by the director, expend such sums as authorized for the purchase of counterfeit, false, forged, or fictitious certificates of ownership, registration card, certificate, license or special plate or permit, or driver’s license provided for by this code as evidence, or for expenditures related to the procurement of such evidence, or for expenditures made to investigate other violations of laws administered by the department. When approved by the director, the identity of a peace officer who submits a claim need not be disclosed if the disclosure might materially prejudice the investigation.

The sums so expended shall be repaid to the peace officer making the expenditure upon claims approved by the director. The claims, when approved, shall be paid out of funds appropriated or made available by law for the support of the department.

(c) The moneys deposited to the credit of the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund which are appropriated in the Budget Act or any other appropriation act for the support of or expenditure by the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall be expended by the department in carrying out the provisions of this code and in enforcing any other laws relating to vehicles or the use of highways. The Department of the California Highway Patrol may draw, without at the time furnishing vouchers and itemized statements, sums not to exceed in the aggregate one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the sums so drawn to be used as a revolving fund where cash advances are necessary. At the close of each fiscal year, the moneys so drawn shall be accounted for and substantiated by vouchers and itemized statements submitted to and audited by the State Controller.

(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 669.)