I don't believe you can get a ticket for not having the third brake light. Check you motor vehicle codes. Not in Michigan.
If you did not have one from the factory, you cannot get a ticket for it. If you add one, you MAY get a ticket for having it out.
If you DID have one from the factory, you CAN get a ticket for having it out. It depends on the cop, in either case.
NB: The CHMSL ("third brake lamp" - more properly called "Center High-Mount Stop Lamp") is mandated under FMVSS - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or 49CFR Part 1 - which does not vary from state to state, and has no bearing on state Vehicle Codes.
Doesn't change the fact that I think it's about as useful as the vermiform appendix - or that it was added due to inattention on the part of drivers (either of the vehicle itself for failure to maintain, or others for failure to look.) Just as we're now saddled with pointless DRL because people can't be arsed paying attention (which makes it difficult to communicate with other drivers on the freeways, and is directly responsible for those wretched bloody "flicker DRLs" that motorcycles now have,) antilock brakes (because people don't know how to drive,) "speed-proportional steering" (because people panic far too easily,) or other such sundry nonsense.
Many of the so-called "safety devices" we're saddled with these days, and which drive up the cost of a vehicle, could be obviated simply by teaching people to drive properly. I catch a low tyre well before TPMS does...