Mankato joins Lights On Minnesota program to offer vehicle-repair vouchers in lieu of citations

The Mankato City Council voted to authorize the city's participation in Lights On Minnesota, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) program that allows officers to issue vouchers for certain vehicle lighting repairs in lieu of citations.

Commander Newman of the Department of Public Safety explained the program and said it provided up to $250 per repair at participating dealerships or retailers; recipients have 14 days to use the voucher. Newman said the state agency issued 443 vouchers across the community in 2024 and that the program was temporarily suspended in July 2025 due to funding limits but has been reinstated temporarily. For a $500 operational fee the state would make 100 vouchers available to the city for the temporary restart.

Council approved the participation agreement and a $500 operational payment from the public safety budget. Council members said the program helps address minor safety defects while avoiding citations in some cases and leverages state funding to provide a local repair option.