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.
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