:(I heard that there is a law that the employee is not responsible for walkouts. Our restaurant requires that we pay for the bill if the customer does not. I do not find this fair when you are going into the back to get them something and they leave while you are gone that you are responsible. You can't watch them every second.

An employer may deduct, withhold, or divert a portion of an employee's wages only when the employer is required to or may do so by state or federal law or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction or the employer has written agreement with the employee to deduct, withhold, or divert.
http://www.dol.state.ne.us/legallaws/Wage%20Payment%20&%20Collection%20Act.pdf

Most states that have such deduction restrictions also apply to paying "out of pocket". Even the federal DOL restricts deductions that will take the employee below minimum wage.