Refusing to pay a ticket that a cop gives you in California or any state can get you arrested.
In most if not all states the police are told to arrest anyone who refuses to sign a traffic ticket or any other ticket that they give you.
Signing and accepting a traffic ticket or any other ticket from a police officer is not admitting guilt and you should just accept the ticket and then go to court to fight the ticket if you're in the right.
I've seen some people refuse to sign tickets and get arrested for doing so and some others the cops just don't want to deal with them and not arrest them.
But that doesn't mean that you won't be summoned to appear in court later as the judge could send you another summons forcing you to appear in court over the traffic violation or other ticket.
Refusing to sign the ticket or accept the ticket from the police officer will make it harder on you in court.
It's best to just accept and sign the ticket to avoid any jail time and avoid making it harder on you.