Senator Jim Oberweis is calling on Illinois consumers to help him in his push to end the state’s Sunday sales ban for car dealers.
The 25th District Senator has introduced Senate Bill 1780 to repeal the 32-year prohibition that has prevented Illinois consumers from being able to buy cars on Sundays. He is also sponsoring Senate Bill 1706 to allow for the sale of motor vehicles by licensed dealers on Sundays if the dealer is a person who observes a religious day of worship other than Sunday; and Senate Bill 1835 to allow for the sale of motor vehicles by licensed dealers for no more than two hours on Sundays.
“When I first proposed ending the government-imposed ban, I thought I would be the hero of the auto industry by getting government off their backs. But I soon found out that most car dealers don’t want to open on Sunday and they also don’t want their competitors to be open either,” Senator Oberweis said. “I really need consumers’ help for a grassroots effort to overcome the industry lobbying effort against my legislation.”
All three bills were allowed a “subject-matter-only” committee hearing by the Senate Transportation Committee April 21, but no vote was taken. Testifying on behalf of those bills were Heather Niemetschek of the Illinois Policy Institute (pictured at right) and Dyanne Ferk of the University of Illinois (pictured at left).
“An in-depth discussion about this issue can be found on my legislative Web site. I am asking consumers to please contact your state legislators and voice your support for the legislation,” Oberweis said. “These bills deserve a public hearing and a vote by lawmakers.”
According to a poll March 9 by the company We Ask America, Illinois consumers believe that they should be able to buy a car on Sunday by a margin of almost two to one.