South Carolina's so-called blue laws are
an annoyance to citizens, a deterrent to economic development, an
albatross around the necks of local businesses and a drain on the
wallets of taxpayers.
For most of the United States, Sunday, Dec. 26, will be one of the
biggest shopping days of the year. The immediate past Sunday also ranks
high on merchants' agendas. But because most South Carolina stores may
not open until 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, untold revenue -- and sales taxes --
flow out of customers' pocket books into Charlotte and other cities that
face no such restrictions.
Nor does that begin to account for the lost opportunity of
enterprises that might locate in York County if the blue laws didn't
exist. Economic development recruiters say some national restaurant
chains shun this area because they may not sell alcohol on Sunday,
typically a major day in that industry. Instead, they locate across the
state line, where many of our own citizens choose to go for Sunday lunch
or dinner.
The blue laws are both inconsistent and unfairly applied. For
example, you can't buy a dress shirt before 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, but you
can load up on all the cigarettes and other tobacco products you can
carry. State law exempts counties that collect more than $900,000 a year
in accommodations taxes from Sunday opening restrictions, but counties
without a major tourism industry are stuck with the antiquated
regulations. This hurts businesses along major highways, such as
Interstate 77, which are dependent on trade with motorists who are
passing through.
Every year at this time, local businesses moan about the blue laws
and pressure government agencies to give some slack. There is even
confusion over whether a county council may suspend the laws or whether
law officials can be persuaded to turn their backs on early Sunday
sales. Even if such tactics were practical, community leaders ought not
to encourage scofflaws. Besides, most large companies are not about to
risk the bad publicity that would arise if one of their store managers
were busted for violating the blue laws.
This issue needs to be settled -- not in the heat of the Christmas
shopping season -- but during the next term of the General Assembly.
Lawmakers representing York County need to hear from the York County
Regional Chamber of Commerce and other leaders of the business
community: Eliminate or amend the blue laws. If a statewide remedy can't
be found, at least lower the accommodations tax threshold so that
merchants in York County and other South Carolina border counties may
compete on a level playing field.
