Pocono News Section

No Tip? You're Under Arrest!

No Tip? You're Under Arrest! - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:30PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009 @ 05:30pm EST
MAHANOY CITY, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY -- Would you stand up for something you believed in, even if it meant getting arrested? That's exactly what happened to one college student from Pottsville.

She refused to pay a mandatory 18% tip after getting what she called bad service in a restaurant. She ended up in the back of a police cruiser.

We first told you about the story last week. Today, Eyewitness News sat down with Leslie Pope. She's a Pottsville graduate and a senior at Moravian College in Bethlehem. She still can't believe she was arrested for not leaving a tip.

No drink refills. No condiments. No napkins. Pope says that's the kind of sub-par service she and a group of friends received at a restaurant.

"When we actually did get our food, they forgot a portion of our order," she said.

It happened last month at the Lehigh Pub in Bethlehem. "The waitress came in. she was outside smoking when we were looking for our check," said Pope.

So when a required gratuity for group was already tacked on the tab…

"We were talking and decided we weren't going to give her 18%," said Pope.

The restaurant employees called police, and Pope ended up in handcuffs.

"It was kind of surreal," remembers Pope.

She called her mom Denise to let her know about her new found criminal record. “Everybody I've talked to tips on how good the service is whether there's a mandatory tip or not," says Denise.

Pope's mom and people at CJ’s Dog House in Mahanoy City say she did the right thing. Francis Shukausky of Ashland said, “I consider myself a pretty good tipper. But if I get terrible service, I don't leave anything."

CJ’s owner Christine Petrovich said, "It's up to the individual person. You know, if you don't do the job, you don't deserve the tip."

Pope was charged with theft and had a court date set for next month. But this week, the charges were dropped. Leslie says she’s breathing a sigh of relief.

Mom Denise added, "I still want them to stand up for what they believe in, but gee, you have to be careful with how you do it!"

Leslie Pope is glad her criminal record was wiped clean. She says next time she gets bad service -- she just might pay the tip. "It's so not worth it," she admitted.

Pope's story was picked up and seen nationwide. She and her boyfriend, who was also arrested, received an invite to Las Vegas by a restaurant owner.

He says their meals are on him -- and no worries -- a tip isn't necessary.