What a mess.
It sounds like this goes all the way from legitimate abuse (hiring under 14, couldn't they check a birth certificate?) to way overzelous bureaucratic interference (fines for 5 minute late checkouts, can't work late on Fridays). Do the fines go into the general fund of our cash strapped state? That really helps out the kids.

I'll bet that many businesses would make the same choice as SAMIAM and avoid a potential problem by not hiring minors. The state, in trying to protect kids, causes the elimination of their jobs. Why is it that government can't seem to write and enforce laws in reasonable ways that don't make problems far worse than they already are? Why can't government work with business for a fair resolution rather than grabbing the money and running?