about
“When the police officer stopped me, I felt scared, but, when he approached me with such a smile and good attitude, my mind changed, and it became my lucky day.”
Everybody Benefits
IMPROVED POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Vouchers allow officers to engage positively with motorists and offer a solution.
A POSITIVE PATH FOR LOW-INCOME DRIVERS
By preventing tickets, this program has the potential to stop the downward spiral affecting employment and financial stability.
SAFER CARS ON THE ROAD
Fixing car lights that would otherwise remain broken is good for everyone.
A NEW APPROACH TO SOCIETAL PROBLEMS
Instead of punishing drivers for having broken lights, we can fix the bulbs and work toward strengthening the community.
better prioritized COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Police and courts spend fewer resources dealing with small violations and are freed to deal with bigger issues.
LESS POLICE OFFICER STRESS
Officers know that this traffic stop will be positive, rather than confrontational.
“I am a mother of 3 small children. We were without a vehicle, walking in the snow for 2 months after our car was totaled. I worked and saved up to get a cheap car. Then, I got pulled over for having my taillights out. I was so scared I would get a ticket and wouldn’t be able to pay. I am so grateful.”
Why It Works
The law enforcement agencies are thoroughly committed to helping the people they serve.
Participating auto service providers are stepping forward to strengthen their communities.
Good people make donations that pay for the bulbs repair.
FAQS
Who pays for it?
Lights On! is not a government program. MicroGrants, a Minneapolis nonprofit, raises money from individuals and foundations to pay for the Lights On! program in Minnesota.
What does Lights On!/MicroGrants gain from this program?
MicroGrants has at its core a desire to help low-income people break the cycle of poverty. Lights On! shares this goal and also aims to improve police-community relations and public safety. As a nonprofit, MicroGrants is driven by mission, not profit; as a program of MicroGrants, Lights On! functions the same way.
How did Lights On! get started?
After the tragic death of Philando Castile, the MicroGrants Board of Directors discussed ways that they could prevent such a terrible event from happening again. MicroGrants already had connections to low-income drivers, auto repair shops, and law enforcement. MicroGrants CEO Don Samuels, former Public Safety Chair of the Minneapolis City Council, called a number of police departments to ask whether they were interested in joining the program. Since then, the program has grown dramatically as our story has spread. Lights On! continues to grow rapidly as interested law enforcement agencies, auto shops, cities, and nonprofits contact MicroGrants and ask to join.
If I’m neither a police officer nor an auto shop owner, how can I help?
If you can, please donate! Lights On! partners with auto service providers who fix car lights for Lights On! at a deep discount, but the program still has expenses. Whether or not you can donate, spread the word, on social media and otherwise! Crowdfunded programs like Lights On! thrive when lots of people know about them.
Why is Lights On! important?
If someone gets a couple of tickets for having a headlight out and can’t pay for the ticket, most states allow that person’s driver’s license to be suspended. According to an analysis by the Washington Post, over seven million Americans may have lost their licenses due to traffic debt. A New Jersey study found that 42% of people whose licenses were suspended lost their jobs, and 45% of those who lost their jobs could not find new jobs. A ticket for having a headlight out, while inconsequential to some, starts a devastating downward spiral for others. It’s in the community’s interest to have a safe road with all of the cars’ lights in working order, but that shouldn’t be the reason why some low-income drivers lose their jobs or homes. They need and deserve help repairing their lights so they can get back on the road safely.
Do you have to get stopped by the police to get a voucher?
Nearly all participating law enforcement agencies have vouchers available for pick up at their stations or precincts. To find out if your local department is part of the Lights On! program, click here. If they do, we suggest you call them to double check if they have vouchers available at their offices.
How do you choose whom to partner with?
Lights On! wants to partner with as many law enforcement agencies and auto service providers as possible without sacrificing the quality of the program. If you’re from a police department, you can read about the benefits of the program, see who else is involved, and contact us. If you’re from an auto service provider, you can read about the benefits to you, learn about our requirements for participating providers, and contact us.
