With a little help from, weve gathered together some of the most bizarre laws and regulations in massachusetts. With that said, if a massachusetts retailer or nonretail business satisfies at least one of fiftyfive eligible exemptions, it may operate on holidays. Related searches for commercial contractors or products in massachusettseastern. One of the first instances of this term was in the 1781 book written by the reverend samuel peters. Others suggest that the name is associated with ablue blood,a a term conveying a disapproving view of common behavior. Massachusetts statutes citation guides libguides at.
In colonial times, blue laws were passed in observation of the christian sabbath. Early european settlers in massachusetts enacted blue laws 340 years ago during a time when church and state were intertwined. The labor laws in that state require employers to pay their employees an overtime rate of one and one half their base pay whenever they. Rhode island or boston eastern mass and southern new hampshire or. Need info about massachusetts employment and labor laws. Bound, printed copies of the 201819 nebraska blue book are available for purchase through the clerk of the legislatures office and may be ordered by calling 402 4712271. According to the attorney general, most retail stores may not open on thanksgiving day or christmas day, and massachusetts law specifies the limited categories of establishments that may open on those holidays. Aug 17, 2016 massachusetts blue laws are back in the headlines, this time tied to accusations that the oldschool laws are unfairly inapplicable to online retail giant amazons business, even if. Massachusetts saltwater fishing regulations 2020 eregulations.
These laws are enforced by the attorney generals office. The massachusetts blue laws control which businesses may legally operate on sundays and some legal holidays. Designed as an alternative to the bluebook, the maroonbook, as this manual is commonly called, offers a simple, malleable framework for citation. 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. Blue laws may also restrict shopping or ban sale of certain items on specific days, most often on sundays in the western world. Each volume contains annotations and research references tailored to the needs of the massachusetts practitioner and are confidently selected from. Though a wellrespected writer, he was a political novice and a moderate republican in a district where defeating any democrat was next to impossible. Blue laws, also known as sunday laws, are laws designed to restrict or ban some or all sunday activities for religious reasons, particularly to promote the observance of a day of worship or rest. Home state blue books and encyclopedias libguides at godort. Citing the law university of massachusetts amherst. Employment law handbook has free detailed information for all categories. However, there is an exception for certain retail employers. The long, ambiguous history of connecticuts blue laws. The official version of the general laws is now published every two years, with cumulative pamphlets released periodically.
Home welcome to blue cross blue shield of massachusetts. A publication that establishes the correct form of case citations or of references to a legal authority showing where information can be found. Massachusetts early settlers fled england to escape religious persecution, but ended up imposing some pretty strange laws in order to stay in gods good graces. Both labor unions and trade associations have historically supported the legislation of blue laws. These 16 crazy laws in massachusetts will leave you scratching your head in wonder. Paying to attend or participate in an unlicensed sunday sporting event. From parking tickets to kinder eggs, sometimes the law works in mysterious ways. The urban legend, an incorrect one, is that these laws were published on blue paper, hence the moniker. Massachusetts blue laws if you have questions about possible violations of these laws, please contact the attorney generals fair labor division at 617 7273465. When slavitt decided to make a run for the massachusetts state legislature in 2004, he knew the odds were against him. Various retail and nonretail businesses are allowed to operate on those days, but some retailers must pay premium pay to workers. The alcoholic beverages control commission is an agency under the massachusetts state treasury. General contractors dbe,wbe design buildgeneral contractors. Within massachusetts courts you may find a shorter citation for the same law, such as g.
Dec 29, 2014 we are living in a liberal world, why would the blue laws find space in our society where r. Samuel peters to which are added specimens of the laws and judicial proceedings of other colonies and some blue laws of england in the reign of james i. Our overall objective is to provide uniform control over the sale, transportation, possession, purchasing, and manufacturing of alcoholic beverages in the state. Cite the statute as found in the massachusetts general laws, or if not there, in the massachusetts acts. Massachusetts blue laws garner a laugh today, but were. Blue laws are those established specifically to prohibit certain behavior on sundays, or gods day. Mar 31, 2020 cite the statute as found in the massachusetts general laws, or if not there, in the massachusetts acts. Blue cross blue shield of massachusetts is an independent licensee of the blue cross and blue. Each volume contains annotations and research references tailored to the needs of the massachusetts practitioner and are confidently selected from the best titles, regardless of publisher or geography. The first occurrence of the phrase blue laws so far found is in the newyork mercury of march 3, 1755, where the writer imagines a future newspaper praising the revival of our connecticuts old blue laws.
According to wikipedia blue book or bluebook is a term often referring to an almanac or other compilation of statistics and information. Under massachusetts blue laws, the general rule is that most employers may not be open for business on sundays and certain holidays. The following citations are sample citations to pre1969 session laws. Jan 27, 2015 the true blue laws of connecticut and new haven and the false blue laws invented by the rev.
Being idle like common coasters, unprofitable fowlers, and tobacco takers. On november 8, 1966, washington state voters adopted initiative 229, repealing the socalled blue law, which had been enacted in 1909. However, some courts require a different type of citation in documents submitted to them. Most of these laws are still on the books, though they may not be enforced much. Would you like to provide additional feedback to help improve mass.
General laws are session laws or sections of session laws that are permanent in nature and of general application. This page is a list of state blue books the term state blue book typically refers to a statesponsored or statelevel government almanac. In his 1781 book general history of connecticut, the reverend samuel peters 17351826 used it to describe various laws first enacted by. We know from the bible book of revelation that in the end times, millions of people will receive the souldestroying mark of the beast because of laws that involve forced worship and a false sabbath. In the past 30 years, most states have repealed or weakened their blue laws. Massachusetts law specifies the kind of work that may be performed and the type of. In boston, duels can be carried out to death on sunday as long as the governor is present. They are known by a variety of names blue laws, sunday blue laws, sundayclosing laws, sunday statutes. Welcome to the state and local documents task force sldtf guide for state blue books and state encyclopedias.
A volume that explains the organization of a state government and provides the names of state officials. The term dates back to the 15th century, when large blue velvetcovered books were used for recordkeeping by the parliament of the united kingdom. Home state blue books and encyclopedias libguides at. Thanks, your message has been sent to massachusetts department of revenue. 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 stor. Allowing these laws to persist sets a dangerous precedent by tampering with the essential division between church and state. We have made it as comprehensive as is practical, within the limits. If you have questions about possible violations of these laws, please contact the attorney generals fair labor division at 617 7273465.
These laws, which today are usually referred to as sunday closing laws, prohibit certain types of commercial activity on sundays. Joe silvia september 19, 2014 history, new bedford guide 2 comments. Massachusetts blue laws garner a laugh today, but were serious crimes to settlers. Comprehensive, fully annotated coverage of the massachusetts general laws with its own comprehensive index. General laws are codified according to subject matter in a multivolume publication entitled the general laws of massachusetts. This action legalized the operations of thousands of businesses in the state that had been opening on sunday in violation of that law, and eliminated the legal bias favoring religions whose day of worship was sunday.
A section of the massachusetts general laws relating to the issuance of search warrants can be cited as mass. Massachusetts is often the butt of jokes for everything from its local accents to winters, but it requires very dedicated drivers to navigate everything the state can throw on a roadway, which is why, in order to get your drivers permit, you need to study the massachusetts drivers handbook. By michael bodley globe correspondent, august 16, 2016. Home history massachusetts blue laws garner a laugh today, but were serious crimes to settlers. Blue book law enforcement directories pocketsized agency info. Besides massachusetts, only rhode island has remnants of antiquated blue laws, so the issue. Use mylegislature to follow bills, hearings, and legislators that interest you.
Jan 15, 2016 these 16 crazy laws in massachusetts will leave you scratching your head in wonder. Most blue laws have been repealed in the united states, although indiana banned the sale of alcoholic beverages on sundays until the law was repealed on february 28, 2018, and many states ban selling cars on sundays. Blue laws of new york, maryland, virginia, and south carolina. Generations of law students, lawyers, scholars, judges, and other legal professionals have relied on the bluebooks unique system of citation in their writing. Many blue laws still remain on the books, but luckily for us, most have been ruled unconstitutional and are no longer enforced. Massachusetts has a series of laws known as blue laws that restrict activities on sundays and holidays.
Although in general, few people strictly uphold the sabbath anymore, many cities and towns across america still have legal reminders of this observance on the books. The contents of this book apply to installations connecting gas supply system to a customers premises. A number of holidays, including thanksgiving and christmas day, are recognized as legal holidays under massachusetts law. If you have questions about statewide approval of local permits for holiday openings, contact the department of labor standards minimum wage program at 617 6266952. In the 1800s, blue referred to strict religious conviction, and as. A state or local law that prohibits commercial activities on sunday. The settlers have passed away, but the laws still remain, even though. In modern times, they were enacted to provide a uniform day of rest. Massachusetts blue laws affect a large number of its businesses, especially concerning holiday operations. There are still laws on the books that will get you banned. Special rules also apply to factories and mills and to the sale of alcoholic beverages. But while the puritans may have planted the seeds, we cant blame them for all of bostons.
In a diverse and rapidly changing legal profession, the bluebook continues to provide a systematic method by which members of the profession communicate important information to one another about the sources and legal authorities upon. For session laws not yet published in laws of illinois. Includes information about reading and writing legal citations compiled by the trial court law libraries. The manual may be useful to those preparing appellate briefs. Blue laws in boston that keep you from drinking thrillist. Finally, in line with the idea of giving labor a day of rest, while massachusetts allows stores to be open on sundays, many employees are required by law to be paid time and a half. Sep 19, 2014 in this book he describes these as blue laws. Blue laws legal definition of blue laws legal dictionary. A number of authorities have argued that some of the early laws, or a book describing the regulations, were printed on blue paper. Aug 14, 2019 a section of the massachusetts general laws relating to the issuance of search warrants can be cited as mass. They affect a variety of activities on sundays, ranging from liquor sales to hunting to carbuying. Massachusetts blue laws restrictions on business openings on sundays and holidays, also known as the massachusetts blue laws, are enforced by the attorney generals fair labor division.
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