The next time you request an Uber, here’s something you might want to check. Your Uber driver could be breaking the law without even realizing it. It’s an issue I notice almost daily while driving here on the SouthCoast—and perhaps you’ve seen it, too.

Have you ever spotted an Uber displaying a blue "Uber" sign in its front windshield? These LED signs certainly do their job of drawing attention to the car service, but are they legal?

The blue Uber lights are innocuous enough to be sold on Walmart’s website for less than $10. However, according to Massachusetts General Laws, these lights are technically not permitted.

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90, Section 7E, states that only police vehicles are allowed to use blue lights on vehicles. This regulation governs the use of flashing, rotating, or oscillating blue lights on motor vehicles, limiting them strictly to official police purposes.

This law exists for good reason. The public needs to recognize blue lights as exclusive to law enforcement to prevent impersonators from posing as police officers. It may sound far-fetched, but there are people who pretend to be police and pull others over.

Additionally, blue lights help police vehicles stand out in emergencies, grabbing the attention of other drivers and signaling them to move aside quickly.

That said, it seems Massachusetts police aren’t particularly concerned about these blue Uber lights. They’re commonly seen on the road, and I’ve never witnessed an Uber driver being pulled over for displaying one. Law enforcement leaders in Massachusetts may think that the LED lights are distinct enough from the official lights mounted on police cruisers that they do not pose a hazard.