Man arrested for leaving small tip

sfft_2108 · #1 09-13-2004, 08:22 PM

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y -- A New York City man accused of leaving an inadequate tip at a restaurant was arrested, fingerprinted and photographed for a mug shot.

Humberto A. Taveras, 41, faces a misdemeanor charge of theft of services after he and his fellow diners argued with Soprano's Italian and American Grill managers over the legality of requiring an 18 percent tip for large parties.

"They chased us down like a bunch of criminals," Taveras said. "It killed our weekend."

Taveras and eight others had pizza at the restaurant in this resort village Sunday night. He told the Glens Falls Post-Star they weren't completely satisfied with the food and left a tip of under 10 percent. Taveras said they also were not told of a mandatory 18 percent gratuity for parties of six or more and did not see notice of it on their menus.

Restaurant owner Joe Soprano said all the menus have the notice, and the waitress informed the group. He said he did not choose to pursue charges because of the money, but because Taveras' group was obnoxious.

"It's unfortunate it has come to this, but this guy was rude and abrasive. They practically threw food at us," Soprano said.

Taveras plans to fight the charge. He was issued an appearance ticket and was scheduled to appear in town court Thursday.

The arrest raises the issue of whether the gratuities that restaurants automatically tack on for serving large groups are legally enforceable debts.

Warren County Sheriff Larry Cleveland said he did not believe the issue had been litigated before in New York. He said the case could turn on whether the person is notified of the tip requirement beforehand.

"It's not a black-and-white issue," Cleveland said. "It will be very interesting to see where it goes in court."

edh101985 · #2 09-13-2004, 08:30 PM

Whats up with posting all these weird threads? You have this, the puppy one, the wal-mart one, the pig one, the Chupacabra, and some other strange topics?

sfft_2108 · #3 09-13-2004, 08:35 PM

I like to post some weird stuff. I know i post a lot of it. Sorry if that bothers you. I don't just do it to rack up my post count.

birdie311 · #4 09-13-2004, 08:43 PM

Good. That's why I don't wait tables anymore. People who don't tip can go to hell. I work my butt of for these people, get there orders perfect, get everything they need, and kiss their butts for an hour, then they have the decency to leave me a $7 tip on a $100 ticket. I would probably be banned if I said everything I wanted to about people who don't tip.

I had one party this summer that was 20 people. They were the rudest, most obnoxious people in the world. I tried to be nice. I really did. Then, as they were leaving, I heard one of them whisper a comment to a friend about my attitude. I turned around and told him off. All the other customers in my section cheered for me because they all knew how bad the party sucked. In the end I still got a $45 tip, thanks to the good ol' automatic gratuity on large parties.

I don't care wo you are, if you don't tip, you will be hunted down and killed. You try getting paid $2.13 an hour. Tips are what supported me and paid my rent.

BimmerZ3 · #5 09-13-2004, 09:14 PM

I generally tip pretty well. If it's pretty crappy service, then I'll lower it, but if I go with a large group of people then I make sure I leave a big tip because I know how annoying large groups of people can be.

slipknot8527 · #6 09-13-2004, 10:21 PM

whatever...this tip thing has gotten so out of hand. I leave the same amount of money at every place depending on how the service was. Boo freaking hoo if they are getting paid minimum wage....go to college.

coasterguy1 · #7 09-13-2004, 11:14 PM

I leave about 15%. If i really like the person, 20%...but it has to be a cheap ticket and the waiter has to be damned cool. If they suck, 10%...at best.

ErioL · #8 09-13-2004, 11:33 PM

Gee...Why don't we all be good citizens and leave good tips all the time.

I'm not really surprised though, I mean, its in New York.

Natelox · #9 09-13-2004, 11:43 PM

Personally, I hate tipping, and I work at a resturant. I think tips have become too expected, no matter what quality of service. I will tip if the service is excelent, and only for that reason. I believe that I don't deserve all the tips that I make (it can be from $4 to $7 a day), and in a perfect society, tips would not be expected.

birdie311 · #10 09-14-2004, 12:33 AM

[QUOTE=slipknot8527]whatever...this tip thing has gotten so out of hand. I leave the same amount of money at every place depending on how the service was. Boo freaking hoo if they are getting paid minimum wage....go to college.[/QUOTE]

But what if I'm paying for college waiting tables? Oh yeah, try less than half of minimum wage.

Carowinds 73-03 · #11 09-14-2004, 12:57 AM

I always tip well, but when i go to places that say they take an 18% tip is just bull. Thats why i pay cash at those places and leave about 10 or yes under. Thankfully i have not been arrested. Sorry but yes i always tip way over 20% sometimes 50% but if you ask for more that i think you deserve and the service was not to my likeing don't be expecting more than 10%. Maybe less.

coasterlove · #12 09-14-2004, 01:01 AM

[QUOTE=edh101985]Whats up with posting all these weird threads? You have this, the puppy one, the wal-mart one, the pig one, the Chupacabra, and some other strange topics?[/QUOTE]

If you don't like it, don't read it. I find the threads humorous and interesting, if you don't, leave it alone and don't post in it. You always got upset when general public and others....many others critisize and make fun of your threads. ("Doctrined" ring a bell?), so now that general public is gone, you're trying to take his place or something? Why don't you grow up and stop trying to point out everything you think is wrong. This site isn't devoted to you. So why don't you stop bothering people? You really don't want me on your bad side, trust me!

NELLY · #13 09-14-2004, 02:17 AM

I thought minimum wage is... er.... well.... minimum wage. How can they get away with paying less?

birdie311 · #14 09-14-2004, 02:40 AM

Because tips are suppose to bump you up to minimum wage, but when people don't tip, then you don't make jack.

Sparks · #15 09-14-2004, 02:51 AM

wow, i dont tihnk there should been a limint for how much tip you have to pay that dumb. but the people could have been niceer and given a better tip.