California labor commissioner sues 9 carwash businesses

After repeated warnings, California’s labor commissioner filed suit this week against nine carwash businesses, accusing them of violating registration and employment laws.

Commissioner Angela Bradstreet sued the businesses Tuesday, saying they had failed to register with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement. A similar suit was filed against another carwash business in April.

Also this week, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge issued temporary restraining orders against four local businesses, prohibiting them from operating. A hearing in those cases is scheduled for later this month to determine whether a preliminary injunction should be filed.

“We want to send a strong message that employers who flagrantly violate California labor laws and mandatory registration are not allowed to gain unfair business advantage in this underground economy or take advantage of employees,� Bradstreet said.

Six of the lawsuits were filed against owners and businesses that operate in Los Angeles County: Galaxy Detailing Hand Car Wash, Javi’s Car Wash, Melrose Car Wash, Sunset Car Wash, Sahara Car Wash and Lynwood Car Wash.

Two lawsuits were filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court, naming A&F; Auto Detail and Corral’s Auto Detail of San Jose. On Friday, the state labor commissioner obtained restraining orders against them. A hearing has been scheduled for June 22.

The ninth lawsuit was filed in San Francisco County Superior Court against Benny’s Car Wash. Legal counsel for the commissioner said Friday that that case has been tentatively settled.

Owners of the businesses being sued could not be reached for comment Friday.

Bradstreet said all the businesses in question had been issued citations -- sometimes more than once -- and had been fined up to the maximum $10,000. They continued to operate and didn’t pay the fines. In many cases, the businesses were not paying workers minimum wage or were subjecting them to substandard working conditions.

Last year, a Times investigation found that hand carwashes often violated basic labor and immigration laws with little risk of penalty. Labor standards enforcement investigators reported that half or more of carwash owners flouted the minimum-wage law.

Bradstreet said her offices had stepped up enforcement of registration laws. Last year, for example, 576 carwash businesses were inspected and more than $3.8 million in penalties were issued against companies found to be out of compliance with state laws.

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