Your lawyer can't get you off of a burnt out headlight, especially when the cop takes a photograph.

If you get pulled over for having a headlight out and you as the driver were unaware, the officer will likely give you a simple notice to fix the violation. If you fix it quickly, you should be fine as long as you show proof of correction and pay around ten dollars to the court.

It's substantially easier just to pay the ticket

Yeah, because it's 10 fucking dollars, dude. Not a murder charge. Rich/poor has nothing to do with it.