Four car washes in Riverside County, including one in Cathedral City, were among 103 statewide collectively fined nearly $1 million for failing to register their
business or for various employee labor violations, the California Labor Commissioner's Office announced today.

The fines, which ranged from $500 to $10,000, were the result of a two-
day enforcement sweep of car washes around the state on Oct. 28-29.

``Requiring car wash businesses to register with the state allows us to focus on those businesses that undercut their competition, which makes it difficult for legitimate car wash businesses to stay in operation,'' said Angela Bradstreet, California's labor commissioner.

``As part of the underground economy, these illegal businesses often do not pay state taxes, and take advantage of employees by not providing workers' compensation coverage or paying proper wages,'' she said.

The local car wash was identified as Cathedral City Carwash at 67-790 E. Palm Canyon Drive.

Investigators conducted 230 inspections and issued 141 citations to 103 car washes statewide, most for not registering their business, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations. The citations totaled $916,711.

Forty-nine businesses were cited for failing to provide workers' compensation coverage for their employees and were ordered to shut down, according to the state.

Other violations included not providing employees a wage deduction statement; not paying minimum wage; improper payment of overtime; and hiring minors without the required work permits.

The following businesses in Riverside County were cited:

-- Bubble Machine Carwash, 3304 14th St., Riverside;

-- Mission Car Wash, 5310 Mission Blvd., Riverside; and

-- Sanderson Car Wash, 330 N. Sanderson Ave., Hemet