i've been missing one of my taillight covers in the trunk b/c the knob broke
You have been running without a taillight cover??? You are definately going to get protested. That gives you at least a 2 sec. advantage.
Seriously, there are very few people at the local level who are going to protest you unless you are doing major cheats (such as swapping a Prelude motor and trying to run HS). I think you will be fine with your car.