And while I've never heard it happen, if you mess with them, they still have the trump card in the VFR avisories game always available to them, "VFR service terminated, squawk 1200, frequency change approved."
That would be unprofessional and contrary to
Order JO 710.65 Air Traffic Control:
"The primary purpose of the ATC system is to prevent
a collision between aircraft operating in the system
and to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and
to provide support for National Security and
Homeland Defense. In addition to its primary
function, the ATC system has the capability to
provide (with certain limitations) additional services.
The ability to provide additional services is limited by
many factors, such as the volume of traffic, frequency
congestion, quality of radar, controller workload,
higher priority duties, and the pure physical inability
to scan and detect those situations that fall in this
category. It is recognized that these services cannot be
provided in cases in which the provision of services
is precluded by the above factors. Consistent with the
aforementioned conditions, controllers must provide
additional service procedures to the extent permitted
by higher priority duties and other circumstances.
The provision of additional services is not optional on
the part of the controller, but rather is required when
the work situation permits."
See paragraph 2−1−1. ATC SERVICE.
