Vehicle Not Equipped as Required
A CVC 24002(b) citation says the vehicle was operated without the equipment the Vehicle Code requires. The specific defect is typically noted on the citation. When the citation is marked correctable, repairing the defect and having the correction certified resolves it. A CVC 24002(a) citation (an unsafe condition or load that presents an immediate safety hazard) is different: a violation that presents an immediate safety hazard is not issued as a fix-it ticket (Vehicle Code 40610(b)(2)).
Correction Window
The deadline is printed on your citation. The specific repair needed depends on the defect noted by the officer.
Fee After Correction
These steps apply when your ticket was issued as correctable. An officer does not issue it that way if there is evidence of fraud or persistent neglect, the violation presents an immediate safety hazard, or you cannot promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)). When the court accepts your proof of correction, the court clerk collects a $25 fee for each corrected violation (Vehicle Code 40611). There is no fee if the agency that cited you handles the correction and nothing is sent to the court (Vehicle Code 40611(c)). Without proof of correction, you may owe the full fine. Check your notice or ask your court for the amount.
Who Can Certify
A police department, the CHP, a sheriff, a marshal or another agency that enforces the Vehicle Code can certify this correction. If the defect is a brake or light problem, a vehicle safety systems inspection station licensed by the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) can also sign it off. Check your citation for the defect noted.
The court must dismiss a corrected violation when you deliver proof of correction on or before the date on your ticket (Vehicle Code 40522). After that date it may not accept the correction, and you may owe the full fine. If you fail to appear without good cause, the court may add a civil assessment of up to $100 after mailing you a warning notice (Penal Code 1214.1). Willfully failing to appear, or willfully failing to deliver proof of correction, is a misdemeanor (Vehicle Code 40508 and 40616). If you need more time, ask the court before the date passes. The specific repair needed is indicated on the citation itself.
Step by Step
How to Correct This Violation
- 1
Review your citation to identify the specific defect the officer noted.
- 2
Have the identified defect repaired by a licensed mechanic or appropriate repair shop.
- 3
Confirm the repair resolves the condition cited on your ticket.
- 4
Have a law enforcement officer sign the certificate of correction, or a BAR-licensed safety inspection station if the defect is a brake or light problem.
- 5
Submit the signed citation and $25 fee to the court before your deadline.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- The officer did not write the specific defect clearly on my ticket. What should I do?
- Contact the court listed on your citation and describe what was noted at the time of the stop. The court can provide guidance on what repair is expected and who can certify the correction.
- My ticket says CVC 24002(a). Is it a fix-it ticket?
- No. CVC 24002(a) covers a vehicle in an unsafe condition, or not safely loaded, that presents an immediate safety hazard, and Vehicle Code 40610(b)(2) does not allow a notice to correct for a violation that presents an immediate safety hazard. Check your ticket: if it is marked correctable, follow its instructions. Otherwise it is handled like other traffic infractions: you can pay it or contest it, including by a written declaration (Vehicle Code 40902).
This guide covers passenger vehicles. Some rules differ for commercial vehicles and truck tractors (for example, where registration tabs go under Vehicle Code 5204(a)). If you were driving one, check with your employer or a licensed attorney.
This guide provides general procedural information only. It is not legal advice. For questions specific to your citation, contact the court listed on your ticket.
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