The GCR and You

[John Nesbitt]

(Part 3 of 'You and the GCR')

Part 3 - SCCA Penalties

Here is an FAQ around the SCCA penalty process. It will be of only academic interest to most drivers, who never meet a steward in any official capacity during the course of their racing careers. The rest of you (and you know who you are) might find this informative.

Penalties aren't (or shouldn't be) handed out capriciously. They happen in a context. They are triggered by an infraction of the rules, are applied following a defined process, are (usually) applied in proportion to the offence, and are subject to review.


Who can be penalized?

Any member who participates at an event, whether as driver, entrant, crew member, spectator, or official, can be penalized. In addition, drivers and entrants are fully responsible for the conduct of their crew members [2.2.3]. I have sat on courts which have penalized drivers for the actions of their crew. Also, anyone who signs a minor waiver is held responsible for the minor's behavior [2.2.4].

By signing an entry form or applying for a license (including a crew license), you agree to be bound by the GCR [4.1.1].


What can be penalized?

The short answer is: any breach of the rules. The rules include the GCR and the event supps (which can specify modified or additional penalties). The GCR is basically 600 pages of rules, and any infraction of these can be penalized.

Aside from compliance issues, most penalties involve infractions of the rules of the road [6.8.1] and the flag rules [6.11.2]. There are also umbrella rules of behavior (unsportsmanlike conduct etc.) [2.1].


Who can assign a penalty?

At an event, there are two groups which can assign penalties. The first is the Chief Steward (CS) and any Assistant Chief Stewards to whom the CS has delegated authority [5.12.2.B/C]. The second is the Stewards of the Meeting (SOM), the court which enforces compliance with the rules [5.12.1.A].


What is the process for assigning a penalty?

The Chief Steward assigns a penalty via a Chief Stewards Action (CSA) after observing an infraction. The offender receives a notice form, and can protest the penalty (see below) and possibly have it reversed. An exception to this is when the CS orders a Black Flag penalty during a session (typically for a jumped start). This, too, can be protested, but has an immediate effect on the race itself. For this reason, stewards are usually reluctant to penalize someone while the race is on, preferring to assign a penalty after the race.

The SOM assign penalties following the hearing of a protest or a Request for Action (RFA) from the CS. Again, the offender receives a written notice specifying the offence and the penalty. This can be appealed.

The CS has complete discretion in deciding whether to act via a CSA or an RFA. In most cases, the CS will use a CSA, since this permits two levels of review of the penalty. However, the CS may well use an RFA in more complex or more serious cases. Also, the SOM has the power to assign harsher penalties than does the CS.

When choosing a penalty, stewards are given a fair amount of discretion, subject to review. For common infractions, there is a set of guidelines (see below) which stewards typically follow. For unusual or serious infractions, stewards try to assign a penalty commensurate with the offence.


What recourse do I have if I am penalized?

The SCCA provides a process to review all penalties, both at the track and beyond the event.

If you are penalized by a Chief Steward's Action, you have the right to protest the action. You must file your protest within 30 minutes of being notified of the action. The SOM will hold a hearing and may uphold the penalty, overturn it, or modify it.

If you are dissatisfied with the judgment of the SOM on a protest or RFA to which you are a named party, you have the right to appeal the court's decision. Normally, you have 10 days in which to file your appeal, but there are exceptions [8.4.8].


Can officials be penalized?

Yes. Officials are subject to the all the rules applicable to every participant, including the general behavior rules in GCR 2.1, which can be the basis of a protest and penalty.

Beyond any actions at an event, officials (and drivers) can be subject to an officials (or drivers) review. This is a special court convened by the Division's Executive Steward to examine the behavior of an official (or driver). It functions in a manner very similar to an SOM, and can impose all the normal penalties, as well as revoke licenses. Its judgment can be appealed.


What are the Recommended Minimum Penalty Guidelines?

These are a set of guidelines for assigning penalties. They were established by the Executive Stewards of all SCCA Divisions, and are used throughout SCCA Club Racing. The purpose of the Guidelines is to normalize outcomes for common infractions, “... so that all participants will have an expectation of what we will do in common situations."

The Guidelines have not been widely publicized, but neither are they secret. Copies are posted on the websites of several Divisions. Here is a link to one of them: http://sedivracing.org/2009Minimum-StandardPenalty.pdf.

The Guidelines are not part of the GCR nor of any event supps. In my experience, almost every steward brings a copy to races, and consults them when assigning penalties. Note the words 'minimum' and 'guidelines' in the title.

They have been in existence for several years. The Court of Appeals has referred to them in rulings. There are several instances where the Court has reduced a penalty to bring it into line with the Guidelines, but none where it has increased a penalty explicitly to conform to the Guidelines.

The Court has affirmed that they are guidelines, not rules, and has deferred to the SOM as having a better understanding of the particulars of a specific case when assigning a penalty.

So what does this mean for you? For most, it means nothing since most drivers never get penalized. For those who do get penalized, it means that, for example, a pass under yellow would tend to attract a similar penalty wherever it happens. I would read them as meaning, "If you commit this infraction, don't be surprised if you receive this penalty."

In some broader sense, the Guidelines represent an effort to produce a uniform set of outcomes, and to discourage pockets of local practice or arbitrary penalties.

[mlytle]

not an scca event, but there could have been some penalties here!
http://www.vimeo.com/5838617

[StephenB]

I would argue pass number 1 and 2 are both legit and no penalty should be incurred. The flag station is well past the turn in and the pass apears to be made before the apex/flag station. The 3rd pass however is definetly in violation since the entire area from the start finish line through the turn in and up to the waving yellow flag. I have never raced at Summit and maybe the station is before turn in and the video makes it appear to be closer to the apex

Just my take on it, I wouldn't try to make the move though... to risky to argue that in front of the stewards.

Stephen

[itmanta]

I would suggest that the bigger question is why they did not get the dead car off track sooner. They should have thrown a full course caution and sent out the tow truck right away. I did not like the position of the disabled car at all.

[jjjanos]

I would suggest that the bigger question is why they did not get the dead car off track sooner. They should have thrown a full course caution and sent out the tow truck right away. I did not like the position of the disabled car at all.

Because the disabled car is not on course. It is in the grass. For me the bigger question is why they moved it at all. One lap standing yellow and let the folks race. The car was in a low probability impact zone and putting an EV out there with people only increases the likelihood of someone getting injured.

Why the standing yellow at S/F? There's no incident between S/F and Turn 1. That particular incident was half-way to turn 3! They've shutdown 20% of the course for a freaking hot pull in the grass.

Why the waving at turn 1? Waving denotes a condition that warrants extreme caution. Unneeded escalation of the flag condition teaches drivers to ignore the flags.

I recognize that each sanctioning body has its own rules, but those two flags conveyed incorrect information to the drivers. And that's all a flag is... information. It doesn't protect flaggers or EV volunteers.

What can be more simple than:
Waving = paving. Something is on the pavement that will damage your car. You may need to adjust your line. Use extreme caution.
Standing = grass. Keep your car on the road and everybody will be OK. Use caution.

[mlytle]

this was not an scca event.

i suspect the yellow at s/f and waving yellow at t1 were because so many folks had blown off the yellow at T1 already. i would much rather have that than a full course or black flag.

the car off was kinda right after track out for t2. i have seen cars go off there and run up the grass right where the car was parked. good call getting it out of the way.

[jjjanos]

i suspect the yellow at s/f and waving yellow at t1 were because so many folks had blown off the yellow at T1 already. i would much rather have that than a full course or black flag.

How'd that work out for them? Based on the video, not so good. As a flagger, I'm against things like this. I display the flags and it's up to the drivers to obey/show situational awareness. One or two cars blowing the flag, OK.. we'll let the stewards handle it. Widespread ADD... I'm going with "Control this is 1. The driver's are ignoring my standing yellow and over-driving the course condition. I would like a FCY." Most stewards will toss the FCY for a request like that, especially if they know the flagger.

As a driver, I'm OK with that. Give me the opportunity to race until we collectively misbehave.

the car off was kinda right after track out for t2. i have seen cars go off there and run up the grass right where the car was parked. good call getting it out of the way.

"Control, we can leave the car there, nobody ever goes off there." - Anonymous SP flagger for a car sitting on the berm between turn 8 station and registration building. (Back in the corner where the woods start)

"Control this is 8. We just had an unknown car go off driver's right and impact the car on the berm. We'll need a second tiltbed." -Anonymous SP flagger about 45 second later.

"There's no safe place at a race track." - S. Wantland

There are varying degrees of comfort. I've spent many weekends flagging T1/T2 and wouldn't have asked for a hot tow for that car. IMO, the increased risk of having an EV with vols exposed outweighs the risk of someone hitting that car. YMMV.