Statute on ticket

[Supmom810]

We are from FL. My 16 year old was pulled over one night on his way home from work. The officer was sitting(facing south) at a red light waiting to turn east, my son was heading east and made a turn north and was passing by the officer. From what my son says and a witness the officer flipped his lights on just as the front of my sons vehicle was passing by the officer. Once my son pulled over and the officer approached, the officer asked my son if he knew why he pulled him over, my son told him no he did not and asked why. The officer would not answer him at the time. My son gave him his license and reg. and the officer went back to his car. After about 5 minutes the officer returned and told my son that he pulled him over for no tag light (bulb was out) and the wrong color signal light (his was white). We had bought this car about 2 months prior and had no idea the signal was the wrong color, but know that we need to pay this one. Anyway, on one ticket he was charged with Statute 316.221 (1). and the comments say no tag light. After reading this statute, it states that the vehicle must have two working tailights, and shall emit red, in which his did. It is statute 316.221 (2) which states a separate light illimunating the tag white. He was not given a fix it ticket. I asked my son what he did to upset the officer and he said nothing and he even tried to shake his hand,but the officer would not shake his hand. Is this something we can get dropped due to the wrong statute written on the ticket? I tried calling the officer to see if my son was disrespectful in any way, and he has not returned the call. I guess my issues are, it seems he was pulled over for something other than the reasons he was ticketed. The officer had no way of seeing the rear of the vehicle until he completed his U-turn and was behind my sons vehicle, then not telling him why he pulled him over until the tickets were written. These tickets carry a $74 fine each since the officer did not give him the fix it statute, but at the same time, the statute is wrong on the one.
Does that matter?

 

[racer72]

The officer noticed the wrong color signal light (on the front of the car apparently) then noticed the lack of a rear license plate light after pulling your son over. You can use the wrong statute as a defense but because they are related, don't be surprised if the ticket is corrected. They are non moving violations and will not effect your son's driving status.

 

[Supmom810]

Yes, his front signal light was also white, but Florida statutes states that the front needs to be either white or amber. I know it doesn't add points, but $148 is alot for having bulbs out and the wrong color, especially when we were unaware of the problem. A warning would have been sufficient and if we had known prior it would have been fixed. Plus the second ticket states turn indicators (rear) (white), improper lights. So both tickets for the back of the car and again he wouldn't have been able to see until he did his U-turn and got behind his car.
Thanks