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From: ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: "Shopping days"
Message-ID: <4661@alice.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Dec-85 10:30:23 EST
Article-I.D.: alice.4661
Posted: Thu Dec  5 10:30:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 6-Dec-85 07:27:54 EST
References: <291@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 20

> I wonder how much of the USA still has Sunday-sales restrictions (not
> counting liquor sales laws, which are too arcane to consider or even to
> contemplate)? What about the rest of the world? Are there Sunday-closing
> laws in European countries? Are Sabbath-closing laws in effect in
> Israel, or only in some areas of that country? What about in Asian,
> Islamic, and other regions/cultures/countries?

Here in New Jersey, it seems to be local option by town.  There is
a current flap about Passaic, which has an ordinance forbidding
any "worldly activities" on Sunday.  They have taken this as
license for the cops to go looking for offices with lights on,
and going in and arresting their occupants.  Said occupants are often
programmers, and sometimes lawyers.  The cops always seem to let the
lawyers go...

The stated reason for the prohibition is so that the residents can
get one respite a week from the incredible traffic generated by
Passaic's huge shopping malls.  Since the ordinance uses the word
"worldly,"  I expect the real motivation of the people who wrote it
is somewhat different.  I think the case is in court now...