brake lights are not on

I am missing something. What you describe is the way it should be. Unless you mean tail-lights? The brake lights light up when you step on pedal. Ok, Go off when you release brake. Do you have dash-instrument cluster lights working at night? The reason I ask is if the tail lights go out the dash lights go with on a Camry. They set it up that way so you don't drive without taillights and not know.

And how can you even know? Have you had a helper stand behind the car and observe the brake lights... when you press pedal?

I'm also confused. Which lights do not function properly. There should be a RED brake warning light on the dash cluster. There should be a ABS orange light on the cluster. These lights should be on with the key on engine not running. They should be OFF when the engine is running AND the park brake is off. There should be 3 brake lights at the rear of this vehicle. One left...one right....one center at the rear window. These lights go on/off with brake pedal application. There may be another warning light on the dash/cluster. This warning light goes on when there is a park light malfunction. Suggest you re-evaluate your issue with this vehicle.