Sunday Car Sales

Have you ever noticed this?

(I had forgotten about it....)

Car dealerships in Illinois are closed on Sundays.

All cities.

All dealerships.

Some of the car lots even have gates that they pull across their entrances to keep folks from cruising the lots on Sundays (and at nights).

In this day and age where it seems like all sorts of retailers are doing all they can to cater to every whim and willy of consumers, doesn't this seem kinda weird?

Is it some kind of secret pact?

Why has no dealership decided to "break the mold" and have staff ready to move vehicles on the Lord's Day?

Because they can't.

It's the law.

Say what?

Yup, in Illinois, dealerships are forbidden from being open on Sundays.  I believe it's called a "blue law" (a type of law designed to restrict or ban some or all Sunday shopping for religious standards, particularly the observance of a day of worship or rest).

The explanation I found for why Illinois has this blue law...

Back in 1982, car dealers got the Illinois General Assembly to pass a law requiring their competitors to take the day off, too.

The argument was that staying open seven days a week was too costly for the struggling auto industry. Closing on Sunday would save on payroll and overhead and (they really said this) promote attendance at church.

Here's my take on this....

Although I hate to see the government getting involved in matters of commerce (at least where "cheating" isn't involved - like the testing of scales, pumps, and meters), this law kinda makes sense.

I mean really..... what could car dealerships really get done on Sundays anyway?  After all, banks are closed.  Not to mention the Drivers' Services facilities.  Those are 2 critical pieces of the list of "needs" required to sell a car.

Honestly, it's a nice deal to be able to cruise onto a dealer lot on Sunday and not have hoards of eager salesmen swarm the vehicle in eager anticipation of making a sale.  (Of course, this can only happen at the car lots that don't have locks, chains and gates at their entrances.)

There's a renewed push right now in Springfield to try and get this law repealed.  If passed, dealerships would have the option to be open on Sundays.

I wonder how many actually would?

Or how many would just decide to leave up the Sunday barricades.

Out for now.....

Matt