Oberweis Eyes Ending State's Sunday Car Sales Ban

An Illinois state senator wants to end a longstanding ban on Sunday automobile sales.

Sugar Grove Republican Jim Oberweis said he wants to introduce legislation next year allowing Sunday vehicle sales.

"To me, it's anti-consumer, and it doesn't make a lot of sense," said Oberweis, who has announced he's gathering petition signatures for a U.S. Senate run.

The law requiring dealerships to close on Sundays went into effect in 1983. It was supported by car sellers, who said it would cut overhead, level the playing field and give employees a day off.

Violators can face a $1,500 fine.

But Peter Sander, president of Illinois Automobile Dealers Association said the industry wants the law to remain on the books.

"We'd like to maintain the status quo," he said.

Pete Hedinger, who operates Custom Auto Sales in Bloomington, said he'd likely continue to stay closed on Sundays, even if lawmakers eventually lifted the state provision.

An effort to repeal the ban was defeated in a state Senate committee in 1987.