CVC Category
Explore California vehicle equipment violation guides, including lighting, plate-display, and other fix-it tickets with repair and defense guidance.
Category overview
Vehicle equipment tickets are common because they often start with something small: a light out, a broken lens, a blocked plate, or another condition the officer says made the car noncompliant. Many of these cases are fix-it tickets, but drivers still need to understand the exact code section, whether the citation is correctable, and what proof the court expects after the repair.
This category helps drivers compare those equipment issues in one place so they can move quickly, collect the right evidence, and avoid turning a small repair issue into a larger court problem.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24002 prohibits operating a vehicle with defective or unsafe equipment. This includes broken lights, worn tires, cracked windshields, faulty brakes, missing mirrors, or any component that compromises vehicle safety.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24250 requires vehicles to have working headlights during darkness and low visibility. Driving without proper headlights can result in a citation.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24252 prohibits operating a vehicle with defective or improperly maintained headlamps or other required lighting equipment. Most citations are correctable fix-it tickets when a bulb is out, a lens is cracked, or light output is obstructed.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24252(a) is cited when a vehicle is operated with headlamps that are defective (broken, dim, or not working) or improperly aimed (pointing too high, too low, or to the side).
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24400 requires vehicles to have functioning red tail lamps visible from at least 500 feet to the rear. This is typically a correctable equipment violation with no DMV points.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24400(a) requires vehicles to have at least two headlamps that meet specific standards. This is a correctable equipment violation with no DMV points.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 24600 requires vehicles to have working tail lamps (rear lights) that are visible from at least 500 feet away. This is a correctable equipment violation.
Vehicle Equipment
California Vehicle Code 25100 requires drivers to use turn signals when turning or changing lanes. Failing to signal properly can result in a traffic citation with fines and potential DMV points.
Vehicle Equipment
California Vehicle Code 25103 requires drivers to use turn signals properly when turning or changing lanes, signaling at least 100 feet before the maneuver.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26300 requires every motor vehicle to be equipped with a working horn or warning device capable of being heard from at least 200 feet away. Driving without a functional horn can result in a fix-it ticket with a base fine of $35, though total costs can reach $197 to $229 or more after fees.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26451 requires California vehicles to have mirrors that allow the driver to see at least 200 feet behind the vehicle. A violation occurs when required mirrors are missing, broken, or improperly positioned.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26650 requires drivers to maintain a clear, unobstructed windshield that allows safe visibility while operating a vehicle.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26700 requires all vehicles to have windshield wipers in good working condition. A citation means an officer determined your wipers were inadequate, broken, or missing.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26708 prohibits placing materials on vehicle windows or windshields that obstruct or reduce the driver's clear view of the road.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26708(a) prohibits placing or installing materials on vehicle windows that obstruct the driver's clear view. This includes illegal window tint, stickers, signs, or other objects that block visibility.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 26708(a)(2) prohibits driving with any material or object placed on the windshield or side windows that obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view. This includes illegal window tint, stickers, decals, hanging objects, or other items that interfere with visibility.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 27150 requires every motor vehicle to have a working muffler that prevents excessive or unusual noise. A violation occurs when your vehicle's exhaust system is missing, modified, or defective in a way that creates loud or abnormal sound.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 27150(a) requires vehicles to have an adequate muffler in constant operation and properly maintained to prevent excessive or unusual noise. This is a correctable equipment violation with no DMV points.
Vehicle Equipment
California Vehicle Code 27315 requires drivers and passengers age 16 and older to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt. A violation results in a fine but does not add points to your DMV record.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 27315(d) requires drivers to wear a properly fastened seat belt while operating a motor vehicle. This is a primary offense, meaning an officer can stop and cite you solely for not wearing a seat belt.
Vehicle Equipment
California Vehicle Code 27360 requires children under 8 years old to be properly secured in a child restraint system (car seat or booster seat) unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 27360(a) requires children under 8 years old to be properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a vehicle. Violating this law results in a fine but typically no DMV points.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 27400 requires children to be properly secured in age-appropriate car seats or booster seats while riding in a vehicle in California.
Vehicle Equipment
CVC 27803 requires all motorcycle riders and passengers in California to wear a safety helmet that meets federal standards while the vehicle is in motion.
Category FAQ
Many are. Lighting, plate-display, and similar equipment citations are often treated as correctable violations if the driver repairs the issue and follows the court’s proof-of-correction process.
Sometimes yes. Repairing the issue helps, but drivers may still have a case when the officer was mistaken, the problem was temporary, or the court should reduce the penalty after proof is submitted.
Before-and-after photos, repair receipts, mechanic notes, and a clear timeline of when the issue was fixed are often the most useful pieces of evidence.
