Sonic Drive-In fined $8,717 for violations

The U.S. Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division has fined Layton Utah Drive In Inc. of Payson, doing business as Sonic Drive-In, a total of $8,717 in civil money penalties for allowing minors to work more hours per day and past time limits permitted by federal law.

The division said it found Sonic Drive-In restaurants employed 17 15-year-old minors who worked hours and times in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. All but one minor worked hours later than permitted by law, with the majority of minors working as late as 11 p.m. Thirteen minors worked more than three hours on a school day.

The 17 minors were illegally employed at Sonic Drive-In locations in St. George, Washington, Layton, Brigham City and Logan, as well as in three Idaho cities, the division said.

The restaurant had 15 days to take exception to the assessment of the civil penalties but elected not to do so. Instead, it implemented policies to prevent future violations.