If you're a manager at NYC's
Smith and Wollensky, the answer to that question is a firm yes.
The Daily News is reporting that an Italian Tourist was thrown in the slammer the other night for racking up a $200 dinner charge, even though he promised that he could pony up the cash if he could just run home and get his wallet. Sure, "I left my wallet at home" is a likely story, but the diner said that a busboy could come back to his apartment with him to get the cash, and he even said that he'd leave his smartphone as collateral. Despite his please, the management were having none of it. They called the NYPD who promptly arrived and arrested the dude, making him spend the night in jail.
Harsh, yes, but we all forget things now and then. The cops refused to take him back to his place, saying that they "weren't a taxi service," but the judge dismissed the charges next day. What do you think - should the owner have given him a chance to pay before alerting the fuzz, or is a night in jail a fair punishment for showing up sans cash? [via
Grub Street]
