CVC 24601Eligible for written declarationCorrectable · Fix under CVC 40522

License Plate Light Required

Not having a taillamp or separate lamp that lights the rear license plate with white light during darkness so it is clearly legible from 50 feet to the rear.

Reviewed by the TicketClear teamLast reviewed October 10, 2026

Fine: $193, or $25 if correctedDMV Points: None✓ Correctable

This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. TicketClear is a self-help document preparation service — we are not attorneys and do not represent clients. Review all prepared documents carefully before submitting. Fine amounts are estimates and vary by county and surcharge schedule.

What is a License Plate Light Required ticket?

CVC 24601 says either the taillamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed to illuminate the rear license plate with a white light during darkness and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. When the rear license plate is illuminated by a lamp other than a required taillamp, the two lamps shall be turned on or off only by the same control switch at all times.

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What the Law Says

Either the taillamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear license plate during darkness and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. When the rear license plate is illuminated by a lamp other than a required taillamp, the two lamps shall be turned on or off only by the same control switch at all times.

What the Officer Must Prove

1During darkness, the rear license plate was not illuminated with a white light that made it clearly legible from 50 feet to the rear

Arguments Commonly Raised for License Plate Light Required

General information: arguments drivers commonly raise for this code section. Whether any applies depends on your own facts.

Plate light working

If your plate light was working and the plate was legible from 50 feet, describe it and include photos.

Correction

If your notice is marked correctable and you present proof of correction, certified as Vehicle Code 40616 describes, by mail or in person on or before the date on your notice, the court shall dismiss the charge (Vehicle Code 40522). The clerk collects a $25 transaction fee unless the notice is processed only by the agency that issued it (Vehicle Code 40611).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

✗Not photographing the plate light working after any repair
✗Not keeping repair receipts

What this code section covers (general information)

CVC 24601 — License Plate Light Required. Not having a taillamp or separate lamp that lights the rear license plate with white light during darkness so it is clearly legible from 50 feet to the rear.

This section is a correctable (fix-it) violation: if the officer marks your notice correctable, the court shall dismiss the charge when you present proof of correction on or before the date on your notice (Vehicle Code 40522). The officer does not mark it correctable on finding fraud or persistent neglect, an immediate safety hazard, or that you do not agree to, or cannot, promptly correct it (Vehicle Code 40610(b)).

Eligible for Trial by Written Declaration: generally yes.

This is general information about CVC 24601. It is not advice about your citation, and TicketClear does not evaluate anyone's facts. Whether any of it applies depends on your own facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed California attorney.

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How to Clear This Fix-It Ticket

CVC 24601 fix-it ticket: what to repair, who signs off and how to file the proof →