EL PASO, TX. - A Texas judge has upheld an old law that requires car dealerships in the Lone Star state to close one day each weekend. They must now choose to open either Saturday or Sunday.
Rudolph-Chevy and Honda dealership owner, Denny Neesen, is one of the few Sun City car dealers who have remained closed on Sundays. Mr. Neesen tells ABC-7 says it won't affect his business very much.
The Texas Automobile Dealers Association had been fighting the law in court, arguing times have changed since the so-called "blue law" was passed in 1961. The law originally included items such as furniture, clothing, and appliances. It was repealed in 1985.
However, years later the Texas Department of Transportation imposed the weekend restrictions on automobile dealers. Dealerships filed a lawsuit challenge in 1998. Tuesday's ruling says that the blue law is constitutional, as it applies to weekend auto sales.
It is still unknown if any of the local car dealerships who have remained open while the court challenge played out will be fined or face any penalties, now that the Blue Law has been upheld.