Opinion ID: 2966246
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Maine's Sunday Closing Laws

Text: Maine's general Sunday closing law opens with the following pronouncement: No person, firm or corporation may, on the Lord's Day . . . keep open a place of business to the public, except for works of necessity, emergency or charity. (1) Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 3204 (West Supp. 2002). The statute is criminal in nature. First-time offenders shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100 or by imprisonment for 30 days, or by both. Id. The penalties increase substantially for repeat offenders. Id. Over the years, the Maine legislature has exempted dozens of different businesses from the law's application. As of 2002, the law exempted such diverse businesses as seasonal dairy stands, ship chandleries, textile plants, bowling alleys, and real estate brokers. Id. Another exemption applies to retail stores that employ no more than five persons. Id. Likewise, retail stores that have no more than 5000 square feet of interior customer selling space may open on Sundays. Id. Finally, a 1990 amendment carved out an exemption that practically swallowed the rule -- retail stores larger than 5000 square feet may open on Sundays provided that they do not require their employees to work that day. (2) Id. However, section 3203 is explicit in its prohibition of motor vehicle sales: Except as provided in section 3203-A, (3) any person who carries on or engages in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, dealing or trading in new or used motor vehicles; or who opens any place of business or lot in which that person attempts to or does engage in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, dealing or trading in new or used motor vehicles; or who does buy, sell, exchange, deal or trade in new or used motor vehicles as a business on the first day of the week, commonly known and designated as Sunday, is a disorderly person. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 3203 (West Supp. 2002). Under Maine law, a motorcycle is considered a motor vehicle. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 29-A, § 101(38) (West 1996 & Supp. 2002). A person convicted of violating section 3203 is subject to a fine of no more than $100, imprisonment for not more than ten days, or both. Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17, § 3203 (West Supp. 2002). As with section 3204, the penalties increase substantially for repeat offenders. See id. § 3203 ([T]he 3rd or each subsequent offense must be punished by a fine of not more than $750 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or by both.).