A DC8-73F WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH THE L NAV LIGHT INOP IN DARKNESS IN CONFLICT WITH THE MEL.

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WHILE BEGINNING TAXI OUT OF COMPANY OWNED RAMP; RAMP CTL COORDINATOR ADVISED US ON COMPANY FREQ THAT OUR L (RED) POS LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE R (GREEN) AND TAIL (WHITE) LIGHTS WERE ON. I ASKED THE CAPT IF HE HAD HEARD THE XMISSION; TO WHICH HE ACKNOWLEDGED 'YES.' I THEN ASKED WHAT HE WANTED TO DO ABOUT THIS MECHANICAL. HE REPLIED 'WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT LATER.' AFTER RECEIVING TAXI CLRNC FROM GND CTL WE COMPLETED THE FIRST STAGE OF OUR NORMAL TAXI CHKLIST. UPON COMPLETION; I ASKED THE CAPT IF I SHOULD CONTACT MAINT FOR A DEFERRAL; OR IF WE SHOULD CHK THE MEL. (BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ARE COMPANY POLICY). AGAIN HE REPLIED; 'WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT LATER.' AFTER STARTING THE REMAINING 2 ENGS; AND UPON COMPLETION OF OUR ENTIRE TAXI CHKLIST; THE FE QUERIED THE CAPT ABOUT CHKING THE MEL OR IF HE SHOULD ENTER THE DISCREPANCY IN THE LOGBOOK; AGAIN THE CAPT DEFERRED. WE TOOK OFF AND FLEW SDF DIRECT MSP AT NIGHT IN VIOLATION OF FAR 91 AND IN NON COMPLIANCE OF OUR OWN ACR APPROVED MEL AND MAINT PROCS. OUR MEL DOES NOT ALLOW US TO FLY AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE POS LIGHTS WORKING. I WAS QUITE SURPRISED THAT THIS CAPT DISREGARDED PROCS AND THE FARS; AS MY DEALINGS WITH HIM IN THE PAST HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PROFESSIONAL. UPON ARR AT MSP; THE DISCREPANCY WAS ENTERED IN THE LOGBOOK; AND THE POS LIGHT RELAMPED BY MAINT.