Brake lights mounted to bumper: legal or not?

[Gotenntitans]

Question for you guys. My factory brake lights will not work. My friend, who is a certified mechanic, could not find the break in the wires so he welded two trailer style brake lights on the bumper of my old truck.

They come on when I apply the brakes and work properly. Signal lights & taillights still work as from the factory.

Two young police officers pulled me over this morning and said that they were stopping me because my brake lights weren't "factory" and I needed to get the truck repaired back to factory specs. They agreed that the brake lights did come on when I stepped on the brake pedal, but they took exception to the red circular (trailer style) lamps being welded to my bumper.

My question is.......am I legal or not? I don't think I'm illegal, and these two police officers were young. I don't think they know what they're talking about. They gave me a verbal warning to get my truck's brake lights fixed back to factory specs. Should I go to the trouble to do this?

Anyone know the law?

Thanks Friends. GTT