The Massachusetts Blue Laws control hours of operation for certain businesses and require some businesses to pay extra compensation (known as “premium pay”) on Sundays and some legal holidays. These laws are enforced by the Attorney General’s Office.
Are blue laws still in effect in Massachusetts?
Of course, these blue laws are no longer enforced, but some are and still impact today. As late as 1787, a law was passed to jail pipers, fiddlers, runaways and stubborn children — and nagging could get you into some serious cold water.
When did the blue laws end in Massachusetts?
BOSTON, November 26, 2003 – With the stroke of his pen today, Governor Mitt Romney brought the Puritan state into the 21st Century, striking down the ban on Sunday alcohol sales, one of the last vestiges of the Prohibition era, according to the Distilled Spirits Council.
Why is it called blue law?
blue law, in U.S. history, a law forbidding certain secular activities on Sunday. The name may derive from Samuel A. Peters’s General History of Connecticut (1781), which purported to list the stiff Sabbath regulations at New Haven, Connecticut; the work was printed on blue paper.
What is the definition of blue laws?
Blue law is a colloquial term for state statute or ordinance that forbids or regulates entertainment and commercial activities (ex. sale of liquor) on Sundays or religious holidays. Blue laws can also be referred to as Sunday closing laws, Sabbath laws, and uniform day of rest laws.
Can you buy alcohol on Sunday in MA?
Starting Sunday, Massachusetts’ so-called “blue laws” will now allow liquor stores in the state to open at 10 a.m. — instead of noon — on Sundays to sell alcohol without needing to get any special permission from local authorities.
What are weird laws in Massachusetts?
Check out these weird laws in Massachusetts and make sure you’re living within the law.
- At a wake, mourners may eat no more than three sandwiches.
- It is illegal to give beer to hospital patients.
- Snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked.
What states are Blue Law states?
In Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Jersey, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, car dealerships continue to operate under blue-law prohibitions in which an automobile may not be purchased or traded on a Sunday.
What are the most dumbest laws?
Dominoes may not be played on Sunday. It is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle. It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in church. It is legal to drive the wrong way down a one-way street if you have a lantern attached to the front of your automobile.
Is Sunday double time in Massachusetts?
how much extra does my massachusetts employer have to pay me when i work Sundays? Assuming you are entitled Sunday pay (see above), your employer must pay you 1.3 times your regular rate during 2020, 1.2 times your regular rate during 2021, and 1.1 times your regular rate during 2022.
Are blue laws enforced?
Blue laws are enforced in parts of the United States and Canada as well as some European countries, particularly in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Norway, keeping most stores closed on Sundays.
What is Brown law?
Brown Act is a California law that guarantees the public’s right to attend and participate in meetings of local legislative bodies. Located at California Government Code 54950 et seq., it is an act of the California State Legislature, authored by Assemblymember Ralph M. Brown and passed in 1953.
What crazy laws are still on the books?
31 Strange But True Laws Still On The Books
- No Margarine In Wisconsin!
- Children’s Lemonade Stands Are Illegal.
- 3. ‘
- Breaking The Speed Limit …
- Bingo Sessions Must Not Last Longer Than Five Hours.
- Canada’s ‘No Penny’ Law.
- Imprisonment For ‘Fake’ Weather Reports.
- Fortune-telling Bad, Unless It’s Healthcare-Related.
Are blue laws unconstitutional?
Supreme Court ruled blue laws were constitutional, left regulations to states. The court, while acknowledging the religious origins of the Sunday blue laws, held that they were constitutional.
What were the original blue laws?
Let’s connect the dots.
“Blue Laws” came to America with the first colonists and they restricted almost every activity on Sunday, the sabbath. They outlawed everything from hunting on Sunday to selling any type of goods, to displays of affection. Some colonies prohibited dancing and even laughing too loud.
What happened to the Blue Law?
While blue laws may seem unconstitutional because they are based on religion, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional by citing that blue laws secure a day of rest for certain workers and guarantee the free exercise of religion.
Is Happy Hour illegal in MA?
“Happy Hour” has been banned in Massachusetts since 1984 over concerns about drunk driving.
Can you drink under 21 with a parent in Massachusetts?
Written into the Massachusetts General Laws is a clause that allows a parent or grandparent to “furnish” alcohol to a minor in the privacy of their homes. People under the age of 21 are allowed to consume alcohol on private premises with the consent of a parent or grandparent, according to the state law.
What time can I buy beer in MA?
Beer and wine are available in groceries and convenience stores starting at 8 a.m. to 11 p. Every day of the week except Sunday. At restaurants and bars, service begins at 8 a.m. to 2 a. Every day of the week except Sunday.
Is it illegal to eat peanuts in church in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts. In Boston, it’s illegal to eat peanuts in church.
Can a 20 year old date a 16 year old in Massachusetts?
The age of consent is the age when a person can consent to sexual intercourse and sexual contact with another individual over 21 years old. In Massachusetts, the age of consent is 16 years old. This means minors aged 15 or younger in the state cannot legally consent to sexual activity.