I thought all foreign cars had lights that turned off with the ignition until I picked up my 2002 Toyota Solara rental. They stay on unless you turn them off. They do atleast go off the first time when you back click. The way you described the lights on the stratus seems plain dumb to me. It's no wonder I have only owned foreign cars. Even my 85 Audi turned the lights off when the key was removed from the ignition.
B.C.