Charges Dropped After Man Arrested For Small Tip
A man arrested in an upstate New York restaurant for not tipping enough is off the hook.
Local prosecutors said they won’t charge Humberto Taveras for not leaving a big enough tip at Soprano’s Italian and American Grill in Lake George.
The 41-year-old Long Island man was arrested Labor Day weekend when the restaurant owner accused him of not leaving an 18 percent gratuity required for large parties.
Taveras said he wasn’t aware of the policy — and wouldn’t have left that much money anyway because he and his friends weren’t happy with the service. He said he left about a 12 percent tip on a $71 bill. He added the service was slow and the food was not that good.
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The Warren County District Attorney’s Office said a restaurant patron can’t be forced to leave a gratuity. Prosecutors said establishments have to call it a service charge — not a tip — in order to make it a mandatory add-on charge.
sue the restaurant, the arresting cop, and any state thug who wagged his tail.