Dine and dash is illegal and considered theft. Penalties vary by region and type of crime. The perpetrator has no intention of paying and must avoid being noticed. If not caught, the waiter may be held responsible. Waiters must monitor guests to prevent dine and dash.
Dine and dash is an illegal practice in which a person eats a meal in a restaurant and then leaves without paying. It is considered theft and is punishable by law; the repercussions will vary according to the region and the type of crime the perpetrator is accused of. In some cases, for example, dine and dash may be considered a civil offense and may only result in a fine. In other cases, it is a criminal charge of fraud and harsher penalties may be imposed. If the perpetrator of the dine and dash is not caught, the waiter or waitress may be held responsible for paying the cost of the meal.
The person perpetrating a dine and dash usually has no intention of actually paying for the meal they are consuming. In other words, there is an element of intent; not paying a bill when it is issued is not necessarily a criminal offence, but having the intent to avoid payment makes dine and dash a criminal offence. A dine and dasher will sit down for a meal and then find an excuse to leave the table: a common excuse is a trip to the bathroom, while others simply leave the restaurant without any excuses. He or she must avoid being noticed by a waiter or waitress as well as other restaurant employees.
If the person doing the dine and dash is not caught, there are several ways to address the matter. Some restaurants have a policy in place that the waiter must cover the cost of the meal, but this practice is illegal in some places, so the restaurant may be left to cover the cost of the meal. In the former case, servers may have to count the money they received on the night, including tips, and compare that number to checks they issued for meals. If the numbers don’t reconcile, the waiter or waitress may have to pay the cost out of pocket.
It can be difficult for restaurant staff to recognize when a dinner and rush is in progress, and the primary responsibility for monitoring guests falls on the waiter or waitress. He or she must visit tables being served on a regular basis and, while difficult, must also monitor tables when not visiting to make sure patrons do not leave without paying. Some restaurants have security personnel to monitor guests, and sometimes the manager is responsible for that monitoring.
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