Kentucky Has Some Strange Laws – Working on Sunday

Kentucky Has Some Strange Laws – Working on Sunday

      There are some strange things in Kentucky Revised Statutes.  For reasons that entirely escape me, I recently stumbled upon a statute that imposes a penalty for working on Sunday.  It provides in part:

Any person who works on Sunday at his own or at any other occupation or employees any other person, in labor or other business, whether for profit or amusement, unless his work or the employment of others is in the course of ordinary household duties, work of necessity or charity or work required in the maintenance or operation of a public service or public utility plant or system, shall be fined not less than two dollars ($2) nor more than fifty dollars ($50).  The employment of every person employed in violation of this subsection shall be deemed a separate offense.  KRS § 436.160(1).

      There is an exception in the statute for grocery and drug stores, gas filling stations, movie theatres and fishing tackle/bait shops.  KRS § 436.160(3).

      The following section of KRS goes on to permit counties and cities to permit other Sunday sales.  KRS §§ 436.165(1)-(3).  However, even under that permission, no retail establishment is permitted to be open on Sunday between 6 a.m. and noon.  KRS § 436.165(4)(c).  I am at a loss to explain my Sunday morning runs to Target and Lowes.