Under traffic laws in all states, all motor vehicles are required to have certain equipment properly installed on a vehicle, and that equipment must be functioning correctly while the vehicle is in operation. Such equipment includes brakes, headlights, turn signals, mirrors, and windshields, to give just a few examples. A vehicle not properly equipped (i.e. no safety belts installed) or equipped with malfunctioning equipment (i.e. a burned-out head light) can receive a traffic ticket for a mechanical violation.
Mechanical Violations and Fix-It Tickets
In some states, citations for certain mechanical violations are considered correctable violations and often referred to as "fix-it" tickets. In California, for example, if you are given a "fix-it" ticket by a police officer, "yes" will be checked next to "Correctable Violation," and after the problem is fixed (i.e., you repair a non-functioning brake light), you must get the signature of an authorized person (i.e., a local law enforcement officer) on the "Certificate of Correction" portion of the ticket.
If the court accepts your correction, the case will be dismissed. But, if you fail to fix the problem within a short time after you receive a "fix-it" ticket, you will need to pay the fine for the mechanical violation, and you may be issued another ticket which will go on your record.
Mechanical Violations: State Laws
Alabama
Regulation of Operation of Motor Vehicles: Equipment
(AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5, scroll to Article 9)
Alaska
Vehicle Equipment Standards
(AK Statutes scroll to section 28.05.081)
Arizona
Equipment
(ARS Title 28 scroll to 28-921 to 28-966)
Arkansas
Lighting and Equipment Regulations
(AR Code Title 27, Chapters 36 and 37)
California
Division 12 - Equipment of Vehicles (scroll down)
(California Vehicle Code)
Colorado
Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic: Equipment
(CRS Title 42 scroll to 42-4-201 to 42-4-239)
Connecticut
Motor Vehicles: Equipment
(GSC Ch. 246 scroll to section 14-80 to 14-106)
Delaware
Equipment Requirements
(DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter I)
Lights
(DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter II)
District of Columbia
Browse the D.C. Vehicle Code
(18-700, et seq)
Florida
State Uniform Traffic Control: Equipment
(FS Ch. 316 scroll to 316.217 to 316.455)
Georgia
Vehicles and Equipment
(Georgia Code scroll to 40-8-7 to 40-8-90)
Hawaii
Special Interest Vehicles
(HRS section 286-26.5)
Idaho
Vehicle Equipment
(ID Statutes Title 49, Ch. 9)
Illinois
Equipment of Vehicles
(625 ILCS 5, Chapter 12)
Indiana
Vehicle Equipment
(Indiana Code 9-21-7)
Motor Vehicle Equipment
(Indiana Code Title 9, Article 19)
Iowa
Vehicle Equipment
(IA Code Ch. 321 scroll to 321.384 to 321.481 )
Kansas
Equipment of Vehicles
(KS Statutes Ch. 8, Article 17)
Kentucky
Vehicle Equipment
(KRS Chapter 189 scroll to sections .020 to .205)
Louisiana
Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation: Equipment
(LRS Title 32 scroll to 32:301 to 32:369)
Proper equipment required on vehicles
(LRS 32:53)
Maine Equipment
(MRS Title 29-A Chapter 17)
Maryland
Equipment of Vehicles
(MD Transp. Code Title 22)
Massachusetts
Operation of unregistered or improperly equipped motor vehicles
(90 MGL section 9)
Michigan
Equipment
(MI Vehicle Code sections 257.683 to 257.711)
Minnesota
Traffic Regulations: Equipment
(MN Statutes Ch. 169; scroll to 169.47 to 169.75)
Mississippi
Equipment and Identification
(MS Code Title 63, Ch. 7)
Missouri
Vehicle Equipment Regulations
(MRS Chapter 307)
Montana Vehicle Equipment
(MCA Title 61, Ch. 9)
Nebraska
Vehicle equipment and violations
(R.R.S. Nebr. § 60-6, 220 et al.)
Nevada Equipment of Vehicles
(NRS 484.541 to 484.646)
New Hampshire Equipment of Vehicles
(NH Statutes Ch. 266)
New Jersey
Motor vehicle equipment
(NJ Statutes 39:3-46 to 39:3-84)
New Mexico
Motor Vehicles: Equipment
(NMS Ch. 66, Article 3 scroll to Part 9)
New York
Equipment of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles
(NY Vehicle & Traffic Code Article 9)
North Carolina
Motor Vehicle Act: Equipment
(NCGS Ch. 20, Article 3 scroll to sections 20-122 to 20-137)
North Dakota
Equipment of Vehicles
(ND Code Chapter 39-21)
Size, Width, and Height Restrictions
(ND Code Chapter 39-12)
Ohio
Traffic Laws: Equipment
(ORC Chapter 4513)
Oklahoma
Vehicle equipment
(OK Statutes 47-12-101)
Oregon
Vehicle Equipment Generally
(OR Vehicle Code Ch. 815)
Vehicle Equipment Lights
(OR Vehicle Code Ch. 816)
Pennsylvania
Equipment Standards
(PA Vehicle Code Ch. 41)
Lighting Equipment
(PA Vehicle Code Ch. 43)
Other Required Equipment
(PA Vehicle Code Ch. 45)
Rhode Island
Equipment and Accessories Generally
(RI Code Ch. 31-23)
Lighting Equipment and Reflectors
(RI Code Ch. 31-24)
South Carolina
Equipment and Identification
(SC Code scroll to Title 35)
South Dakota
Motor Vehicles: Title 32
(32-15 through 32-19)
Tennessee
Equipment - Lighting Regulations
(TN Code Title 55, Chapter
