+100, Erik and Antipitas. This area of the law is complicated and sticky at best...and apparently ever-changing. Kudos for staying on top of it.
If I were a lawyer (not yet) and were giving legal advice (absolutely not), I'd say to keep your brake lights working and your speed under the limit if you want to keep the cops' noses out of your vehicle (and/or keep anything they find in your car out of court).
