231-(2) A person shall not misconduct himself in any way.
I think this part of the rule has been enforced as well
As many would know by now Glenn Douglas has been given a 6 month driving suspension and a $5000 fine for an incident at Mildura.
Now I'm not here to discuss the wrongs and rights of the incident or the length/cost of punishments. However, if others want to do this feel free to do so.
What I am here to discuss is the application of the rule and type of punishment by stewards.
Ok yes Douglas happened to be driving at the time, but the assault rule 231(1) is a general rule.
http://www.harness.org.au/rules/rules.htm You can see the difference between driving offences (sectional times, whip use etc) and general offences (assault, corruption etc).
So for driving offences you get driving suspensions. For general offences I'd have though you get general penatlies, eg abolishment from race tracks. Similar to Greg Bennett and Cameron Fitzpatrick, yes they were drivers but the rules they (are alleged to have?) broke weren't driving offences hence they were abolished from tracks. I am sure there have been other examples, even specific examples with rule 231(1) where punishment has been a general ban rather than a driving ban.
If I am at the traffic lights and lean out the window and punch the guy next to me do I get demerit points taken off me or do I get charged with assault?
Am I mad for suggesting this? Or do others agree with me.
Last edited by aussiebreno; 06-10-2012 at 12:41 PM.
231-(2) A person shall not misconduct himself in any way.
I think this part of the rule has been enforced as well
Have whoever you want on but don't ever have yourself on
Breno,
I completely agree with you. G Douglas very lucky.
Mitch.
I would think this is very consistent with the penalties issued by Harness racing Victoria.
Not by any stretch of the imagination am I saying you are wrong...but can if this is consistent with other penalties can you please show me where a licenced person breaking rule 231 (1) or any other 'general rules' (as the heading goes on HRA Rules) has had a drivers licence suspended rather than other penalties.
It seems odd to me. If I'm wrong I'm happy to wear that and to have learned something, but it seems strange to me that they suspend a drivers licence for this kind of stuff. That he was in a sulky at the time should have no relevance, he could have been shovelling shit or anything and it wasn't a driving offence.
- Breno I have been done aswell ( but i got done for Inexceptable Whip Use ) .... & i mean i pleaded my case to the Stewards , and i was like " well Sir, what am i sopose to do let other Runner's run past me ..... ? & i mean this horse i was Driving didn't like going passed Horses.
When I first read your post saying he had been disqualified I thought that the penalty was in keeping with the charge and the circumstances of the incident as I had read it.
then I went to the website to read the media release of the hearing and note that it was only a suspension of his driving licence.
Now I see where you are coming from.
IMO the penalty is not in keeping with the charge or the circumstances of the incident.
I agree that the incident hardly qualifies as a race driving breach but rather one of general (as you say) or common assault. As such a tougher penalty is normally warranted.
A disqualification would I suspect be normal warrant for such activity....
Glen is mainly the trainer, Daryl is the driver so this penalty is a joke. IMO the horses will go better without him in the cart.
Don't die wondering !