Dartmouth Puts Brakes On Black Friday Shopping

DARTMOUTH (AP) - Town officials in Dartmouth have approved tough new measures on retailers who want to open between midnight and 4 a.m. on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving that is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Under a bylaw approved Tuesday, stores that want to open early must seek a waiver and submit a police-reviewable safety plan to the town.

Police Chief Timothy Lee tells The Standard-Times the measure is designed to protect shoppers and workers from stampedes caused by eager bargain hunters that have occurred elsewhere.

The bylaw, which needs state approval, will not apply until 2011.

Stores face fines of $100 per minute for the first 30 minutes, $200 per minute for the next 30 minutes, and $300 per minute after the first hour they are in violation of the law.