Blue Laws Exempted: Exploring Unique County In New Jersey

In New Jersey, blue laws, or Sunday laws, restrict the sale of certain items on Sundays. These laws are enforced in parts of the United States, Canada, and some European countries. In New Jersey, Bergen County is the only county that enforces blue laws. Paramus, a town in Bergen County, enforces even stricter blue laws than the rest of the county. The blue laws in Bergen County restrict the sale of electronics, clothing, and furniture, but video game stores are allowed to be open. These laws have been enforced since 1704 and were incorporated into a new law called the Act to Suppress Vice and Immorality in 1798.

In New Jersey, blue laws restrict shopping on Sundays

The blue laws in Bergen County have been a source of controversy, with some residents wanting to repeal them and others wanting to keep them in place. There have been several attempts to repeal the laws, but all have failed. Some towns within the county, such as Paramus, have even stricter blue laws that ban all types of work on Sundays except for essential services.

The impact of these blue laws extends beyond just Bergen County. The American Dream megamall, located in East Rutherford, is also subject to these laws. This means that while the mall is open for entertainment and dining, the retail shops are closed on Sundays. This has led to confusion and frustration for some visitors who are unable to make purchases on Sundays.

Supporters of the blue laws argue that they provide a day of rest for workers and a break from consumerism. On the other hand, critics argue that they are outdated and hurt retail businesses by limiting their operating days. Despite the ongoing debate, Bergen County's blue laws remain in place, making it one of the last places in the nation with such restrictions.

While blue laws may be seen as a nuisance by some, they have a long history and continue to shape the shopping landscape in New Jersey.

Bergen County is the last county in the US to enforce blue laws

Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws that restrict or ban some or all activities on specified days, most often Sundays. These laws are in place to promote the observance of a day of rest. The origin of the blue laws is often attributed to the Roman Emperor Constantine in AD 321, who wanted to set aside Sunday as a day for rest. The term "blue laws" is said to come from the fact that the Puritans wrote their laws on blue paper or in books with blue covers.

Bergen County, New Jersey, is the last county in the United States to enforce blue laws. These laws prohibit the sale of clothing, home goods, appliances, and other non-essential goods on Sundays. The blue laws in Bergen County are state laws that all other counties in New Jersey have opted out of. The county is part of the New York metropolitan area and has one of the largest concentrations of enclosed retail shopping malls in the nation.

The city of Paramus, located within Bergen County, has even stricter blue laws than the rest of the county. Paramus bans all types of work on Sundays, except for work in grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues. The blue laws have been the subject of controversy and have been put to a vote multiple times, but the residents of Bergen County have chosen to keep them in place.

While some see the blue laws as a nuisance, others appreciate having a day off from the busy traffic and consumerism that comes with living in a shopping mecca. The laws have also been supported by retail employees who value having a day off during the weekend.

The enforcement of blue laws in Bergen County has not been without its challenges. Some stores have found loopholes, such as allowing customers to browse items in-store and then purchase them through the store's website or app. Despite these workarounds, Bergen County remains the last holdout for this type of restriction in the United States.

Paramus, in Bergen County, enforces even stricter blue laws

Paramus, a borough in central Bergen County, has some of the most restrictive blue laws in the United States. In Paramus, stores selling non-food items are prevented from opening at all on Sundays. These laws were enacted out of fear that the Garden State Plaza mall, which opened in 1957, would cause high levels of congestion in the borough.

The Paramus Borough Code forbids the performance of any "worldly employment" on Sundays, with exceptions for charity, and the sale of newspapers, medicinal drugs, meals, prepared food, and cigarettes, among a limited number of other exceptions. Even work performed inside one's own home is prohibited on Sundays.

In spite of its six-day shopping week, Paramus consistently has the most retail sales of any ZIP Code in the United States.

In 1993, Paramus voters rejected the idea of a blue laws repeal by more than a 12 to 1 margin, with the need to maintain one day a week without the hustle and bustle in the "mall capital of America" often cited by voters.

In 2010, Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie proposed ending the state's blue laws, which, at the time, were only enforced in Bergen County. Christie cited industry estimates that the $1.1 billion in added retail revenue on Sundays would generate an additional $65 million in sales taxes for the state. However, this proposal was unsuccessful.

In November 2012, Governor Chris Christie issued an executive order temporarily suspending the blue laws in both Bergen County and Paramus due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy. The suspension was upheld despite a court challenge by the Borough of Paramus, and was in effect on Sunday, November 11, but was back in effect the following Sunday.

Blue laws were temporarily lifted after Superstorm Sandy in 2012

In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2012, New Jersey's blue laws were temporarily lifted. The storm caused widespread devastation, and Bergen County retailers were allowed to open on the first two Sundays following the disaster. This was a notable exception to the county's strict blue laws, which restrict most business activities on Sundays. However, soon after, Governor Christie reinstated the blue laws, and businesses returned to regular Sunday closures.

The blue laws in Bergen County have a long history, dating back to 1704 when a law restricting activities on Sundays was enacted. In 1798, this was incorporated into the "Act to Suppress Vice and Immorality" by the state legislature. Over time, various counties in New Jersey have made their own decisions regarding blue laws, with twenty out of the state's twenty-one counties choosing to repeal them at some point. However, Bergen County has consistently voted to maintain its blue laws, with attempts to repeal them in 1980 and 1993 being defeated.

The blue laws in Bergen County have been a source of ongoing debate, with some towns within the county, such as Paramus, even choosing to enforce stricter versions of the laws. The laws have also created complexities for businesses, especially those located in shopping malls, as they navigate what goods and services they can offer on Sundays. Despite the inconveniences and criticism, many residents of Bergen County appreciate the blue laws as they provide a day off from consumerism and help reduce traffic congestion.

The temporary lifting of the blue laws after Superstorm Sandy was an exceptional response to the urgent needs of the community. It allowed businesses to serve those affected by the storm and provided a brief respite from the usual restrictions. However, the reinstatement of the laws soon after reaffirmed the county's commitment to maintaining this long-standing tradition of setting aside one day a week for leisure.

Retailers that violate blue laws can face fines or jail time

Blue laws, also known as Sunday laws, are laws that restrict or ban some or all activities on specified days, usually Sundays. The laws were originally adopted for religious reasons, specifically to promote the observance of the Christian day of worship. In the US, blue laws are upheld as constitutional, recognising their religious origins, but they are also supported by secular justifications.

In New Jersey, blue laws are still enforced in some counties, including Bergen County, which has some of the last remaining Sunday closing laws in the US. These laws restrict the sale of electronics, clothing, and furniture, and Paramus, a town in Bergen County, has even stricter blue laws, banning all types of work on Sundays except in grocery stores, gas stations, pharmacies, hotels, restaurants, and other entertainment venues.

• First offense: a fine of $250
• Second offense: a fine between $250 and $1,000
• Third offense: a fine between $1,000 and $2,000 and/or 30 days in jail
• Fourth and subsequent offenses: a fine between $2,000 and $5,000 and/or 30 days to six months in jail

While blue laws have been repealed in most of the US, many states continue to impose restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages and cars on Sundays.

Frequently asked questions