Two students were jailed after refusing to pay a $16.35 tip at a restaurant, sparking widespread outrage and debate.
In a surprising and controversial incident, two college students were jailed after refusing to pay a tip at a restaurant.
The incident took place in 2009 at Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
It sparked outrage and debate over tipping practices and what is considered fair service.
The restaurant experience was disappointing for the students.
John Wagner and Leslie Pope, the two students involved, went to Lehigh Pub with a group of friends.
They ordered food and drinks, expecting a pleasant dining experience. However, things did not go as planned.
According to Pope, their food took an hour to arrive, and the service was lacking.
She claimed that she had to refill her own drink and get her own silverware because the waitress was not attentive.
“At this point I became very annoyed because I had already gone up to the bar myself to have my soda refilled because the waitress never came back.”
Frustrated with the service, the students decided not to pay the $16.35 tip included in their bill.
They felt that the service did not warrant such gratuity.
Instead, they paid a total of $73.87 for their meal, which was part of a $90.22 bill.
Two college students imprisoned for not tipping $16.35 at a restaurant over poor service
After they refused to pay the tip, the restaurant staff called the police. The situation escalated quickly.
The authorities charged the students with theft because they considered the tip part of the total bill.
This decision to involve law enforcement raised many eyebrows and sparked a debate about the fairness of such actions.
Many people felt that criminal charges were excessive for what many consider a civil matter.
The situation garnered attention online, with many expressing disbelief that students could face jail time for refusing to pay a tip.
The authorities eventually dropped the charges against the students.
In the days following the incident, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli weighed in.
He believed that they should drop the charges against Wagner and Pope.
Morganelli stated that they should handle the matter civilly rather than criminally.
He emphasized that tipping should not lead to criminal charges, especially in cases where service was poor.
“It would not be the kind of case that should be processed criminally, Morganelli told The Express-Times.
“It was one of those matters that should be processed civilly.”
Despite this, the police had already intervened, leading to a complicated legal situation for the students.
The case generated a lot of media coverage and public discussion about tipping culture in the United States.
Social media reactions
Public reactions to the incident were mixed.
Some people supported the students, arguing that they had the right to refuse to pay a tip for unsatisfactory service.
Some people believe that customers should always pay tips, regardless of the service received.
In recent years, tipping has become a contentious topic.
Many people argue that tips should be based on the quality of service, while others believe they should be mandatory.
This incident brought these discussions to the forefront, forcing people to consider what is fair and reasonable in dining situations.
That’s insane to arrest for that! Discusting! One user said.
Tips are not legally required, the second user said.
If the service is shot then the tip will be the same if your lucky to even get a tip, the third user wrote.
Its not my responsibility to subsidize the restaurant. I only pay the listed price. I have no obligation to pay more (i.e. an improperly imposed tip or gratuity), another user said.
Tipping is only a thing in the us. In Japan and Korea it’s an insult. It’s out of control in the U.S., someone commented.
The restaurant ultimately closed its doors permanently.
The authorities dropped the charges against Wagner and Pope, leaving them to handle the aftermath.
The restaurant, Lehigh Pub, has since closed its doors, leaving many to wonder about the impact of this event on its business.