But after reading this I was thinking it is a good thing for many hobbiests, who refuse to tip on principal, there is no mandatory tipping at AAMPS!

Pleez keep this thread light, we have had too many heated threads in the past about tipping and it just gets old...

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Couple busted for not paying tip
The gratuity was mandatory for large parties, but what if the service stinks?
Posted by Karen Datko on Friday, November 20, 2009 1:38 PM
Bizarre story of the week: Two restaurant patrons were arrested on a charge of theft when they refused to pay a $16 mandatory tip that was part of their bill.

College student Leslie Pope told a TV reporter that the service was so bad at the Bethlehem, Pa., establishment that she had to get the table’s silverware and napkins and walk to the bar to refill her soda. An hour after the group of eight ordered chicken fingers and other bar grub, the food arrived.

Bing: Tipping etiquette
The menu says an 18% tip is included in the bill for parties of six or more. The tip on their bill amounted to $16.35 (inexplicably higher than 18%).

NBC Philadelphia reports:

After the $73 bill came, the group paid for food, drinks, and tax but refused to pay the tip. After explaining the bad service to the bartender in charge, Pope claimed he took their money and called police. The couple was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car.
“They cuffed the Pope in Bethlehem,” one Fox TV anchor in Philly remarked.

According to the NBC report, the owner said managers offered to comp the food, but the couple said that didn’t happen. The NBC reporter speculated that the charges will probably be dropped.

Readers who posted comments at various online articles about the situation offered a variety of views -- the most thorough discussion can be found at lehighvalleylive.com -- including:

The couple should have paid the tip -- particularly after police were called.
The manager should have apologized for bad service and moved on. No need to call the cops. “Obviously we would have liked for the patron and the establishment to have worked this out without getting the police involved,” Deputy Police Commissioner Stuart Bedics told NBC.
Mandatory tips are outrageous. A tip is a reward for good service. “I know that many places will add it to the bill on parties over a certain number, but I think that the patrons should also have the right to not pay when there is bad service,” “oldgoat” said in a comment at Newser.
What should have happened here? What do you think?

If the couple genuinely felt they were deducting money because services were not rendered or rendered unsatifactory in accordance to the full extent of the written agreement, legally they are fine.

Its actually very surprising any self respecting officer would make this arrest.

The pope will be ok, unless she is a belligerent neanderthal in court.

I don't have a problem 'tipping' if the service is good, otherwise forget it. To be arressted, to much....

is slow and bad service. The management should be ashamed of them-

selves for calling the police. It would of been much better too have

just let their guests leave without having too pay a tip.