Number 7. October 2, 1974

Number 7. October 2, 1974 Honorable John F. Kehoe, Jr. Commissioner of Public Safety 1010 Commonwealth Avenue Boston. Massachusetts 02215 Dear Mr. Kehoe: I have your inquiry concerning a truck washing business conducted on Sunday. You request an opinion as to whether the business is exempt from the Sunday law by virtue of § 6(44) of G. L. c. 136. Section 6 of c. 136 exempts from the operation of the Sunday law various businesses and activities including the following: "(44) The operation of a car-washing business between eight o'clock in the forenoon and one o'clock in the after- noon, provided that such business may be carried on at any time if not more than a total of two persons are employed therein at any one time on Sunday and throughout the week." I understand that the basic factual situation is as follows. Because trucks cannot be involved in transportation on Sunday except between stated hours, they stay over at particular terminals in the Common- wealth. The operation of their trucks during the week precludes them from having the trucks cleaned. The problem has been solved by the in- stitution of a mobile truck washing business in which a truck, equipped with a compressor, heating oils and tools affixed to its body and used solely for the purpose of washing trucks is dispatched to one or more terminals during the day on Sunday and engages in the business of wash- ing trucks at these terminals. From the foregoing, I conclude that a car washing business is in- volved, within the meaning of § 6(44), and that if it complies with § 6(44), it will be exempt from the operation of the Sunday law. Very truly yours, ROBERT H. QUINN Attorney General 52 P.D. 12