Question for Texans

[The Seeker]

Texans...help me out here.

Someone said to me recently:

Even the great 'conservative' bastion of Texas is a nanny-state. They tell you where, when, why and how you can buy contact lenses. They even tell you what days you can and cannot shop for a car.

I have scoured the Internet for any information about this statement. I cannot find anything under the Texas Attorney General's webpage that supports that statement. Nor can I find anything when I Google on it.

Is there any truth to it at all?

 

[Dilligaf]

Beats me but TEXAS rocks!

 

[The Seeker]

How could they enforce any rule about when you can shop for a car? Are car dealers only allowed to be open for business on certain days of the week? This just sounds way off-base to me and probably wrong.

I also looked up the rules about contact lenses and the rules all seem to be protections in favor of the consumer such as:

* Your eye prescription is YOURS and whomever created it must give it to you without any charge.
* Only people/companies who have the proper credentials can do your eye exam.
* Only people/companies with the proper credentials can sell contacts.

 

[Lonzo]

Maybe the local jurisdiction he live in prohibited car sales on Sunday, don't think it is state wide.

 

[CarlS]

Some counties/municipalities in Texas and throughout the Southeast still have blue laws. That sounds like one of those sour grapes, internet rumors.

 

[The Seeker]

GP is the only Texan here...right? He's the kind of guy that would know about the auto sales restrictions if they actually exist.

 

[CarlS]

He is the only active Texan here. And he is certainly knowledgeable about vehicle sales.

 

[The Seeker]

I did just find an article about several states, including Texas that prohibits online auto sales.

For example.....Ford had a website for consumers to search for pre-owned Fords which listed the price as well as all the details. If you wanted that car, they'd put you in touch with the dealer who has it, or they could have the car shipped to a dealer near you. This was considered illegal in Texas and Ford had to shut down their offerings in Texas (other states allow it).

http://www.cato.org/pubs/briefs/bp58.pdf

 

[CarlS]

Hmm, that sounds like dealer lobbying got that prohibition passed.

 

[grandpaul]

I only know my uncle's local Chevy/Nissan/Hyundai closes on Saturday but opens on Sunday. I think he had to choose; arcane "Blue" laws.

As far as contact lenses, I know Sally walked in about 3 weeks ago, told them what she wanted, and had 'em a couple of hours later.

 

[The Seeker]

Thanks GP.

Yes, the online restrictions seem to be motivated by the auto dealer association. I'm sure actual new car dealers didn't mind it, but the used car only lots did.

He cited some babble about something that happened to him like 20 years ago on the contacts and I simply told him that wouldn't be the case today so it's irrelevant.

By the way....there are still some crazy old Blue Laws on the books here too. I recall one such one being that you couldn't sleep on top of a discarded refrigerator. LOL

 

[Doug]

I'd check the date on that..........could it be April 1?

 

[Dschief]

I just heard (or read) recently that one of the New England States has a law on the books that it is illegal to snore with a window open. My butt would be in jail if that were true here!

 

[CarlS]

LOL!!