Other Criminal Charges & Offenses Eating at a Restaurant

[Matthew R Overfield]

Jurisdiction

Michigan

Just curious...is it illegal to order food at a restaurant and then leave without paying for it? If so, at what point does it become illegal?

Also, can you sue a restaurant for taking too long to serve your food? Would you stand a chance of winning such a legal battle?

 

[cbg]

1.) Yes.
2.) At the point that you leave the restaurant
3.) No.
4.) No

 

[army judge]

.is it illegal to order food at a restaurant and then leave without paying for it?

Yes, in your state it is also a crime:

MCL 750.292 provides as follows:

"Any person who shall put up at any hotel, motel, inn, restaurant or cafe as a guest and shall procure any food, entertainment or accommodation without paying therefor, except when credit is given therefor by express agreement, with intent to defraud such keeper thereof out of the pay for the same, or, who, with intent to defraud such keeper out of the pay therefor, shall obtain credit at any hotel, motel, inn, restaurant or cafe for such food, entertainment or accommodation, by means of any false show of baggage or effects brought thereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor."

A conviction for defrauding an innkeeper is punishable by a fine up to $100.00 or up to 90 days in jail, or both.

It is also referred to in the vernacular as "dine and dash", "chew and screw", or "dine and ditch".


In fact a Detroit police officer was allegedly involved in a "chew and screw" incident.

Detroit cop part of group charged with leaving $500 bill at Japanese steakhouse
.
.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

3.) No.

Sure you can sue. People often sue for stupid things.

 

[zddoodah]

is it illegal to order food at a restaurant and then leave without paying for it?

Illegal, as in a crime? I doubt it.

can you sue a restaurant for taking too long to serve your food?

Sure. Anyone can sue anyone for anything. I can sue you for making this post.

Would you stand a chance of winning such a legal battle?

No.

 

[Zigner]

Illegal, as in a crime? I doubt it.

Actually, the law was posted above that shows that it may be a crime.

Of course, it could be argued that the question did not provide enough facts to yield a valid answer.

 

[flyingron]

Ordering (and receiving/eating) food without paying for it is theft. Ordering without receiving the food, is a gray area. Michigan law doesn't seem to consider it fraud unless you do it with the intent to receive something you ordinarily aren't entitled to nor do any other crimes stem unless you did it with an intent to cause mischief.

You aren't going to prevail trying to sue someone over slow service (or no service if you end up not paying).

 

[adjusterjack]

Just curious...is it illegal to order food at a restaurant and then leave without paying for it? If so, at what point does it become illegal?

Also, can you sue a restaurant for taking too long to serve your food? Would you stand a chance of winning such a legal battle?

Your questions have been adequately answered.

Thread closed.

 

[cbg]

Sure you can sue. People often sue for stupid things.

Granted. I should have said he cannot SUCCESSFULLy sue.