No bumper 2nd offence

Got a ticket this weekend from a trooper (Tennessee Highway Patrol). Its my second ticket for no bumper. He said I lose my license and registration for a year and thats what it says TCA 55-9-215. Whats up with this. Any input? First one was at slammin 07 in lebonon and i had no bumper. Today I had a roll pan. so.....
Was a bumper an option on a 1986 B2000? I hate to cut slots in my roll pan and put this ugly bent bumper on to try to get it dismissed.

You don't have to do that man you could fab up a bracket to go under the pan out of site that detaches like a trailer hitch.

NorthernTool.com sells the hitch receivers.

Unfortunately I am being told that it has to have a bumper that "protrudes".

no you dont,some of the mazda trucks were sold with out bumpers in the rear, but for the law all you have to do is get a bar welded in behand the pan by a dot cert welder and make sure it pushes on your pan just a little then your pan is your bumper, the law book says there has to be something structural to hit in an impact so it is safer then just body panels