Is a headlight out a ticket or an out of service violation?

Broken lights in cars were reason to stop them. Broken lights on comercial vehicle not so much. Depends where u are. Average cop doesn't want anything to do with a commercial vehicle unless u committed a major moving violation.

 

Headlamp circuits at the most draw between 10/12 amps per low/high, so one headlamp will draw between 5-6 amps. If you look at most stock headlamp wiring, it's often pretty skinny. Even the basic wire sold at truckstops should be able to hold up to even a 15 amp load without melting.

 

What's wrong with your wire? Is it corroded? It's an easy fix you can do by yourself.

But as far as the OG question, that's a tricky one.

I been pulled into a scale for a headlight not working, and got a "warning", but the DOT officer never even checked my driver licence, or anything. He just simply wrote it on the paper and let me go. Very nice guy!

I also been pulled into a scale for a level 1. Everything was fine, except the licence plates on the trailer light was flickering. Got a violation for that.

Picked up a brand new flat bed, drove 20 miles. I checked everything before I picked it up. Pulled up to Indiana toll, and got pulled over. I guess brake lights stopped working. It was a easy fix, problem with wiring from the factory, but got an HOS.