Defective tail lamps
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Defective tail lamps
I live in Washington state and recently got pulled over. I was written a ticket by the officer for having defective tail lamps. I have a total of seven lights in the rear of my vehicle 2 license plate lights, 1 third brake light, and 4 tail lights. 2 of my tail lights are on the outer corners of my vehicle and the other 2 are on my lift gate. Every lamp on my vehicle are operating and functioning the way they should except the 2 tail lamps on my lift gate, which are running lights. The outer tail lights that were operating are running lamps and brake lamps, so my
car is perfectly visible at night. I was written for defective tail lamps even though by state law you need at least 2 functioning tail lamps and license plate lights. Do I fight this ticket?
Asked on December 20, 2018 under General Practice, Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
It's a cost benefit decision: even if could win, fighting a ticket in traffic/municipal court generally involves at least two court appearances (the first one, where you appear and plead not guilty; and the second one, usually a few weeks later, where they actually try the case). Is 2 - 5 hours of your time each day, on at least 2 days, worth more to you than the cost of the ticket? If not, then you may reasonbly choose to fight with a reasonable expectation of winning (no case is ever guaranteed, so you can't count on winning) based on what you write. But if your time is worth more than the ticket, just pay it.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.