Cop gave me ticket for cracked tail light*FIXED* but now they charge $15 to correct ticket!

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
My ex-stepdad drove this car with the cracked tail light for over a year, never got a ticket, then the car got handed over to me. I drove it for about 10 months, and one day, this asshole cop decided to give me a ticket for it, along with making a right turn on a red without making a complete stop before the limit line :disgust:.
The light is still red, and still shines brightly.
PIC

It costs around $110 to replace it with a brand new light. Though a junkyard is charging me $50 for one. Is that a fair price for a used one from the junkyard?
Could I possibly just put red tape over it?

UPDATEOK I got it fixed, read bottom reply..
 

kyparrish

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2003
5,935
1
0
That's a pretty stupid thing to get a ticket over. Now, if you were doing 110mph through red lights while snorting coke w/ a hooker and merging without turn signals, then yes, it would be justified.
 

PHiuR

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
9,539
2
76
well..it is the law....

it's kinda b1tch that he gave it to you but thats what the law states...and i think that he wouldnt have stopped you just to give you a ticket for a crack tail light. but because you diddnt stop at a right turn he jus added that offense onto it.
 

Ness

Diamond Member
Jul 10, 2002
5,407
2
0
Just pay the $50 to have it replaced and know everything will be fine, then go talk to the judge saying that you got it repaired.

He might let you off if you fix the problem soon, but is under no real obligation to, because a broken tail light is noticable, while a burnt out bulb is hard to catch on to.

Take care of the problem, be honest and don't be a problem and you have a better chance of getting it dropped.


My guess is that you got this ticket on the weekend or so, when quotas had to be met. ;)
 

Harvey

Administrator<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
35,057
67
91
Your profile says you're from California. So am I. With an equipment violation, all you usually need to do is fix it, and they'll dismiss the ticket. :)
 

Subzero

Banned
May 5, 2003
4,842
0
0
Cracked ????

That is straight up busted, means for a ticket ...maybe a fixit ticket but most likely just a warning the first time.
 

Turkish

Lifer
May 26, 2003
15,547
1
81
i am pretty sure the judge will dismiss it if you get it fixed. take a picture of it and take it to court. he will ask if you got it fixed, and want you to show it to the officer, and will dismiss it. take along your receipt as well.
 

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
I just bought a new to me Pick up, and both the rear lens were busted, (fixed with red tape).
I bought two new ones off of Ebay for a little over $50.00

Check there!

BTW I never got pulled over with the tape on them, so as far as I know it's legal. (Though your mileage may very from state to state)
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,409
39
91
will they dismiss it if i put red tape on it?
the ticket IS marked correctable for the tail light... so it means I can get a cop to dismiss it.
 

Brutuskend

Lifer
Apr 2, 2001
26,558
4
0
Originally posted by: virtualgames0
will they dismiss it if i put red tape on it?
the ticket IS marked correctable for the tail light... so it means I can get a cop to dismiss it.

Probably. But check with your local DMV to be on the safe side.
 

HappyPuppy

Lifer
Apr 5, 2001
16,997
2
71
"I fought the law and the law won."

Fix the taillight and get it written off for no charge. The reason you got busted is because you rolled through a light.
 

SportSC4

Golden Member
Aug 29, 2002
1,152
0
0
the cop isn't much of an asshole considering that tail light is busted and not cracked.
in all, you can probably use some red plastic tape to cover it up or just spring for a new one on ebay at around 15-25$
 

TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
1
0
Maybe you can repair it with taillight repair tape. See your local auto parts store. Also good for making your pink CCFLs red!
 

Grouchyoldguy

Senior member
Jun 4, 2003
327
0
0
It has been like that for two years. Ample time to pony up 50 bucks and get it fixed. You earned that ticket ya cheap bastage.:D
 

axelfox

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 1999
6,719
1
0
Are you sure you weren't in some hick town in the middle of nowhere when the overweight sheriff pulls you over and tells you: "You have a broken taillight. And you say "What broken taillight?" and he says "This one!" and proceeds to smash your taillight.
 

RagingBITCH

Lifer
Sep 27, 2003
17,618
2
76
Yep, what an asshole cop for doing his job. Ignorance that driving with a broken taillight is ok is no excuse.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,544
924
126
He needed an excuse to pull you over and you gave it to him. Yes, he can give you a ticket for that.

Don't want to be pulled over? Don't give them a reason to pull you over.