All states have traffic laws that require motor vehicles on public highways, streets, roads, and driveways to have certain mechanical equipment installed and functioning properly. For example, a motor vehicle is required to have working headlights, taillights, rearview mirrors, and turn signals/blinkers.

A broken or missing piece of equipment on a vehicle (a mechanical violation) is a common reason for a police officer to stop a vehicle and issue a ticket or citation—and a reason for the officer to inquire and investigate whether the driver has consumed any alcohol before operating the vehicle.

In some states tickets or citations for mechanical violations are known as fix-it tickets and the ticket or citation will indicate that it is a correctable violation of traffic laws. If you fix the mechanical problem within the required period and get the signature of an authorized person (a local police officer) the court may dismiss the ticket.

But if you fail to fix the mechanical problem within the required period you must pay the fine for the violation and you may be issued another ticket that will be part of your driving record.

In Illinois, traffic laws mandate that motor vehicles operating on public highways, streets, roads, and driveways must have certain mechanical equipment in working order, such as headlights, taillights, rearview mirrors, and turn signals. If a vehicle has a mechanical violation, such as a broken or missing piece of equipment, it provides a valid reason for a police officer to stop the vehicle and potentially issue a citation. These citations can often be 'fix-it tickets,' which are correctable violations. The driver can rectify the issue within a specified time frame and have the correction verified by an authorized person, usually a local police officer, to potentially have the ticket dismissed by the court. However, failure to correct the issue within the allotted time results in fines and the citation may become part of the driver's record. It's important to note that while fix-it tickets can be dismissed upon correction of the issue, the process may involve administrative fees and does not guarantee that the ticket will not affect one's driving record.