Ask a Trooper

By Sgt. Jesse Grabow, State Trooper 

Question: Do you have any advice on what a person should do if they are driving along in the dark and their headlights go out?

Answer: If your headlights suddenly go out, try using your parking lights, hazard warning lights or turn signals—one of them may work and give you enough light to guide you off the road. If your headlights fail on a busy or lighted road, you will probably have enough light to guide you onto the shoulder. If all your lights fail on a dark, deserted road, slow down and keep your vehicle on the pavement until you can move safely onto the shoulder.

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Question: I’m wondering about a light that seems to only be on at night on the traffic lights. It’s a small purple or blueish light that’s near the traffic lights. I’ve tried to figure out what its use is or if it’s a camera. I’ve asked other people what it means and I’ve never met anyone who knows what it is. Thank you!

Answer: What you are talking about is a blue light and they are visible during the day. How they work and what are they used for:

1. Signal Activation: The blue lights are wired into the traffic signal system and turn on when the traffic light changes to red.

2. Officer Visibility: From a distance, officers can see the blue light, indicating that a vehicle has entered the intersection while the signal was red.

3. Enforcement: This allows officers to effectively and safely enforce red light violations, even if they are observing the intersection from a distance.

The blue lights make it easier for officers to see and enforce red light violations, improving traffic safety. The blue lights allow officers to observe intersections from a safe distance and pull over violators without putting themselves or other drivers at risk. The increased enforcement provided by blue lights aims to deter drivers from running red lights, leading to fewer crashes and improved traffic flow.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205.  (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).