Car dealers hate government regulations, right?

Not on Sunday.

In Illinois, Texas and New Jersey, lawmakers who want to allow Sunday sales face vehement opposition from dealers. Sunday sales, dealers argue, are too hard to conduct with banks closed, make hiring and keeping quality workers difficult and are disliked by most consumers.

"The hours we work now are long enough that consumers have plenty of time to buy a car during the week," said Bob Muller, general manager of Muller Honda of Gurnee in Gurnee, Ill. "A lot like to come here on Sundays to look and not be bothered by somebody. And it gives salespeople and managers time to spend with their families."

Currently, 18 states ban or restrict Sunday car sales. In those states that allow them, many dealers say they are open that day only because competition demands it.

"We'd like to be closed, for the employees," said Loy Todd, president of the Nebraska New Car & Truck Dealers Association in Lincoln. Nebraska allows Sunday sales. About 10 years ago, Nebraska dealers tried to get a law to prohibit them, but "it was controversial," so dealers remain open on Sunday, he said.