ok guys, This is a long post but if we are going to do it we better make sure we nail it
many thanks to hat for his table work !
We will look to incorporate this table into the new stewards group in some form for the upcoming season....
We are currently discussing what the easiest way will be to implement this.
Just a couple of points after looking through all 5 pages of posts....
- The goal here is to simplify the process for
EVERYONE
- this all came about after the split of the community onto different platforms and games.
- The 'split' (for want of a better term), has seen an inadvertent relaxing of consistency in rules in some cases.
- The 'framework' we have run the league from will remain, as it HAS worked very well for us over a long period of time
- The intention of a stewards group is to TRY to bring consistency, clarity and transparency to any protest and ruling
- All protests over ANY seasons have been looked at with the best intentions of the league first and foremost.
- Remember the people looking at protests (past and future) are volunteers doing their best with limited time and resources
- To the best of my knowledge there has NEVER been any conflict of interest by any ruling made in ANY of the leagues.
All that said, the following things need to be remembered by all competitors
* This is a game first and foremost, HOWEVER, all drivers should expect to be able to race in a clean, fair environment.
* It has been proven time and again that NETWORK issues can and will affect the relationship between cars in lobbies
* This is why we have ALWAYS asked for a replay from BOTH drivers involved in a protest.
* Mods, Captains and others who have been involved in looking at any protest can only judge by using the EVIDENCE
AVAILABLE to them.
* The interpretation of rules is just that...an 'interpretation' ! Look at any motorsport category in the world, and penalties applied after any incident, there is almost ALWAYS a difference of opinion, IE "grey area". The most recent that comes to mind was the collision between Hamilton and Rosberg at the spanish GP.
* This 'grey area' means that there will always be 'some' incidents where there needs to be discretion when a penalty is to be applied. For this reason there MUST, IMO, be an opportunity to adjust penalties where required.
* Drivers who have been 'abusive', 'intimidatory' or 'intentionally reckless'
HAVE been banned for a period of time. Best example was Dan Holland...... long term member, very well respected div 1 driver, who snapped one night after a few rounds of contact (GT5), his reaction was to wait for the field, then drive into the driver he had an issue with. Next day he apologised unreservedly, was banned for the remainder of the season, and given his previous standing, was allowed to race again next season, on probation. There was one PCARS driver who was banned for a period of time last season for abuse. When i asked for an apology to the person he targeted, he gave me a few suggestions as to where i can put our community ! He has been banned and wont return until he acknowledges our request.
* drivers who continually get penalised have had their penalties increased after 2 or 3 incidents.....
* In short, a lot of the things suggested in the posts previous
HAVE been happening.
* I do think over time, drivers have become a little 'blase' about potential penalties, not quite knowing what it could be.
PENALTY PROCESS (CURRENT is linked below)
http://www.raceonoz.com/forums/index.php?threads/procedure-for-post-race-complaints-or-protests.193/
Below is how "I" have always run the process, and how i believe it should work with the use of a Stewards Group (SG).
1. A driver has intention of making a protest and saves his replay as required (protestor)
2. "Protestor" makes the steward group aware of incident and provides HIS replay.
3. The 'SG' then make the OTHER DRIVER aware that there has been a protest lodged AGAINST them, what the incident is, and who is involved. The SG will ask for any evidence that would show why the protest should be thrown out. Both drivers would have a separate conversation going.
4. Once the 'SG' have evidence from both sides a ruling can be made. IF the driver being protested AGAINST cannot, or is unwilling to provide evidence from their replay, then the SG can only rule on evidence in front of them.They may ask other drivers in that division for help with replays to help with their determination etc.
5. A penalty will be applied as per our agreed table of penalties, using discretion WHERE REQUIRED.
6. BOTH drivers are notified of the SG decision, and IF there is a penalty applied, that driver has the right to appeal. That said, The appeals process DOES need to be tidied up IMO
7. In the past, if a driver is found guilty, and a penalty is applied, that driver has the right to appeal to the person nominated by the mod team. In the past i have gone to Koaster as he is not involved in either PCARS or GT6. His decision has been final.
8. If the protest is thrown out, should that 'protesting' driver have the right to appeal that original decision ?
9. Once a protest has been judged, and both parties accept the decision, should we have a thread as to what the incident was, and why the decision was made ? Again, i have done this on occasion with the incident between Beau and sam at silverstone the best example, where it was the clearest case of having 2 completely different POV, and a clear difference in what each driver.saw on their replay
ALL THAT SAID, as koaster pointed out earlier, the current rules and regs, along with the current appeals thread generally outline what the intentions are above. Getting members, BOTH new and old, to read and understand the process has probably been harder than actually going through the process of the protest itself !!!!
Perhaps if we can get the table to a point where its included in the OP of each div for every season, along with links to rules and regs / protest procedure / Mic etiquette (all things found in the new members thread) then it will ultimately make all of our lives easier.
stu
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