How serious are equipment violations, like broken headlight and broken taillight tickets?
Equipment violations, such as having a headlight out, can sometimes be the reason a police officer pulls over a driver in the first place. Other times, equipment violations are discovered during the stop and lead to extra tickets being added to the original infraction. It always feels really bad to a pile of citations for issues such as faulty brake lights and improper window tinting on top of the speeding or cell phone ticket that led to the police encounter in the first place.
The good news is that in many cases, showing proof that a mechanical problem was fixed is enough to get an equipment violation dismissed. Charges that may be dismissed automatically include inadequate steering mechanism, horn and windshield-wiper violations, no or inadequate lights, insufficient taillights, inadequate plate lamp, missing mirrors, no rear defogger, missing windshield, no turn signals, no hazard lights, no splash guards, removal of a pollution control system such as a catalytic converter, no muffler, no backup lights, unsafe tires, unlawful speedometer, and no bumper. The law requires that the necessary repairs are done quickly to get an automatic dismissal: by the end of the next business day after the ticket was issued, with “end of day” here being defined as half an hour past sunset.
A prosecutor may also offer to ask for dismissal as part of a plea bargain, when there are a few different charges. Hiring an experienced traffic attorney to explain the consequences of agreeing to any deal is an important part of this process.
Some charges that seem to be about equipment, on the other hand, are really about driver behavior. A broken headlight does not get charged the same way as failing to turn on those headlights in the dark, or when it’s raining. In situations like this, there is nothing to repair to get a quick dismissal. While these are typically violations that do not carry points as a penalty, there can still be several hundred dollars in fines for each citation.
Each situation is unique, but in all of these cases you have the opportunity to get a free consultation at Selby Legal to help you understand your options. Speak to an attorney who understands the moods of the prosecutors and the history of the judges in a particular court. Equipment violations don’t have to lead to half a day or more taken up going to court personally, either. When you hire an attorney in whom you have confidence, the whole process can feel easier and run more smoothly for everyone.