can my boss charge me 50 out of my paycheck for being late an hour?

She cannot deduct monies from your paycheck if you are a salaried employee and you have time on the books (i.e., paid time off available or vacation or bonus days available). She could only dock those days. If you are salaried and have no time on the books, your paycheck will be deducted the amount you earn for an hour of work. If you are hourly, the same concept would apply but she cannot simply dock a penalty fee. It would be your hourly salary that would be docked if you had no time on the books to take off. As to suing you, she cannot sue you for that money. Contact the labor board immediately and file a complaint with that agency.