Need some help with weird electrical issue (includes tale of police brutality)..

[WhiteStripe]

Well it was a loose connection on the license plate light and a bad bulb (as pretty much everyone said).

Thanks for the help all - I really appreciate it.

[tobyseattle]

Same thing happened to me--minus the police.  Both tail and license plate lights out, but brake light worked, tail bulb looked fine, fuses fine.  I too went down the path of thinking there was some weird electrical issues.  Read this thread, replacing both bulbs fixed it. [moto] 

Thanks DMF for saving me way too much time overthinking the problem

[WhiteStripe]

Good stuff.

My plate light is still on and off - but that can wait til winter.  Glad you got yours sorted.