License plate bulbs are out, how will I get ticketed?

[KrillBee]

The license plate bulbs are out on my car. I have the new bulbs, but I cant install them because the old bulb holders were rusted into my car assembly. I tried taking it apart earlier and I screwed everything up, melted plastic with my dremel, bent a bunch of metal. I'll have to replace lots of parts. I should have just had a mechanic do it

Anyways, so I probably wont be fixing this until summer since its too cold outside, and I dont want to pay a shop several hundred dollars to install a new light assembly.

What type of ticket can I get if I'm caught driving without my license plate lights? Would I get a fix-it ticket? Or would I get hit with a straight fine that cant be corrected? I live in Minnesota.

 

[KLin]

You could if you run across a cop who's so bored out of his mind that he's looking for anything to occupy his time.

 

[jumpr]

In MI you can get a defective equipment violation (aka a Fix-it Ticket). I think they're $120. However, if you can get it fixed within a week, I think you don't have to pay.

If you don't get it fixed, you'll probably get ticketed multiple times between now and summer. Especially if you are on the roads past midnight on a weekend. Cops look for various reasons to pull people over, and defective equipment is a popular one.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: KLin
You could if you run across a cop who's so bored out of his mind that he's looking for anything to occupy his time.

its new years eve tonight, so the odds are much higher that I could get pulled over.

 

[xanis]

Get some glow sticks and duct tape them above and below your license plate. Ghetto license plate bulbs FTW!

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: jumpr
In MI you can get a defective equipment violation (aka a Fix-it Ticket). I think they're $120. However, if you can get it fixed within a week, I think you don't have to pay.

If you don't get it fixed, you'll probably get ticketed multiple times between now and summer. Especially if you are on the roads past midnight on a weekend. Cops look for various reasons to pull people over, and defective equipment is a popular one.

maybe i just shouldnt drive at night until summer, LOL

Originally posted by: Xanis
Get some glow sticks and duct tape them above and below your license plate. Ghetto license plate bulbs FTW!

LOL, not a bad idea! how long do those glow sticks last? do they come in white light? is that legal?

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: KLin
You could if you run across a cop who's so bored out of his mind that he's looking for anything to occupy his time.

its new years eve tonight, so the odds are much higher that I could get pulled over.

Considering cops will look for any and every reason tonight to pull people over in hopes of catching DUI/DWIs, I'd say you have an extremely good chance of getting pulled over if you drive on any main road.

 

[chrisms]

I've been driving around with a broken tail light for about a year. Maybe I should fix it.

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: chrisms
I've been driving around with a broken tail light for about a year. Maybe I should fix it.

lol dangerous! i did that and people honked at me till my ears bled.

 

[Mermaidman]

Minnesota eh? In your favor: Cop will not be inclined to step into freezing ass weather for such a minor violation.

OTOH, if and when cop stops you, he will be in a bad mood due to said freezing ass weather.

 

[thirdlegstump]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Minnesota eh? In your favor: Cop will not be inclined to step into freezing ass weather for such a minor violation.

OTOH, if and when cop stops you, he will be in a bad mood due to said freezing ass weather.

lol

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: KLin
You could if you run across a cop who's so bored out of his mind that he's looking for anything to occupy his time.

its new years eve tonight, so the odds are much higher that I could get pulled over.

Considering cops will look for any and every reason tonight to pull people over in hopes of catching DUI/DWIs, I'd say you have an extremely good chance of getting pulled over if you drive on any main road.

i know there is a good chance i could get pulled over, but what i want to know is whether or not i can get hit with an undisputable fine?

Like would this just be a minor equipment violation, where I get a fix it ticket, and then fix it and get the fine cancelled?

Or would this be some kind of plate violation, where I could get hit with a ticket that can't be cancelled?

Thats what I want to know.

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman

Originally posted by: chrisms
I've been driving around with a broken tail light for about a year. Maybe I should fix it.

lol dangerous! i did that and people honked at me till my ears bled.

The light still works, the red cover is broken. I think red might've been covering it for part of the year until it broke off at some point.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: chrisms

Originally posted by: secretanchitman

Originally posted by: chrisms
I've been driving around with a broken tail light for about a year. Maybe I should fix it.

lol dangerous! i did that and people honked at me till my ears bled.

The light still works, the red cover is broken. I think red might've been covering it for part of the year until it broke off at some point.

red transparent tape for the win!!

 

[chrisms]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: chrisms

Originally posted by: secretanchitman

Originally posted by: chrisms
I've been driving around with a broken tail light for about a year. Maybe I should fix it.

lol dangerous! i did that and people honked at me till my ears bled.

The light still works, the red cover is broken. I think red might've been covering it for part of the year until it broke off at some point.

red transparent tape for the win!!

I know.. I'm the wierd guy that goes to your house and the first thing I ask is, "Got any red tape?"

Maybe I should talk to the folks at City Hall. badump bing! Take my wife, please! Hey you've all been great I'll be here all week!

 

[bobdelt]

is that light even required? Im pretty sure I had a car without that light.

 

[funboy6942]

I have driven many cars with no plate lights and NEVER gotten ticketed over it. Thats got to be one anal cop to pull you over for that considering his headlights are brighter then the little bulb when he pulls in behind you.

 

[Instan00dles]

go buy a small light powered by a AA or AAA and install it above your plate, problem solved just remember to change the battery

 

[imported_Baloo]

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
go buy a small light powered by a AA or AAA and install it above your plate, problem solved just remember to change the battery

And while your at the strore, buy some new bulbs.

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: bobdelt
is that light even required? Im pretty sure I had a car without that light.

When I was in HS I had a car the that would constantly blow these little buggers I would get pulled over all the time.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: KLin
You could if you run across a cop who's so bored out of his mind that he's looking for anything to occupy his time.

Never underestimate the ability of a cop to generate income for the state.

Personally, I subscribe to the 'don't give them a reason to pull you over' philosophy.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: JBT

Originally posted by: bobdelt
is that light even required? Im pretty sure I had a car without that light.

When I was in HS I had a car the that would constantly blow these little buggers I would get pulled over all the time.

what happened? did you get ticketed?

Originally posted by: Instan00dles
go buy a small light powered by a AA or AAA and install it above your plate, problem solved just remember to change the battery

LOL that would be expensive to replace that battery so often.

Are these scrapped together solutions even legal?

 

[GregGreen]

Originally posted by: JBT

Originally posted by: bobdelt
is that light even required? Im pretty sure I had a car without that light.

When I was in HS I had a car the that would constantly blow these little buggers I would get pulled over all the time.

My car doesn't have them and I have never gotten pulled over for such a thing (NY).

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
Minnesota eh? In your favor: Cop will not be inclined to step into freezing ass weather for such a minor violation.

OTOH, if and when cop stops you, he will be in a bad mood due to said freezing ass weather.

Not anymore...it's like 33 degrees tonight...mid 40's earlier...climate change FTL.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: bobdelt
is that light even required? Im pretty sure I had a car without that light.

required in most of the US...those that talk about running without them obviously have some reason to be. The license plate is the main method of identifying a vehicle...yet so many cover them, paint over, etc....all these people I have witnessed like this have been road fools swerving and weaving, cutting someone off to make a turn ahead of them, etc.