Between 2 am and 5am, the only people on the road are odd-night shift workers, weirdo/criminals and drunks (generally). In order to go "fishing" for weirdo/criminals and drunks, the cop needs probable cause.
Inoperative lights and no seat belt are all probable cause. If you don't want to be stopped, you need to quit giving them probable cause.
Of course, I've got no room to talk... I'll admit to getting my first ticket a few months ago - based very justifiably on an equipment probable cause traffic stop... I have a project car I'm building. Just got the engine fired and wanted to drive it around the block in the rural area where the shop is located. Open pipes, black primer, no seats, no seat belts.... I am SUCH a dork... I got a ticket and had it coming. Pled guilty and paid the fine for inoperative lights.
The officer told me he figured that based on the appearance of vehicle alone "somebody was going to jail" LOL!
angela