Brake light got me a ticket

Hi I have a 2004 Toyota Prius. Love the car it's got 286 on it. I had a problem with the right rear brake light working sometimes and not other times so I replace this little circuit board thing that's in the headlight housing and it seemed to have fixed it It was good for a while and now it's doing it again. On my birthday this really nice, young, not shaving yet sheriff gave me a ticket for my tail light being out. What a jerk
It's not something I can tell is going on when I'm driving so I need to be able to trust it ....any ideas?