That's a very good example, actually. Now why don't the people, through their elected representitives, pass a law allowing, say, a 5 year prison term for speeding? Because they don't feel it's an appropriate punishment. But the owners did give the commissioner that kind of authority - they could have withheld it by specifying what the maximum punishment for each infraction should be, but they left it to his discresion. I have no reason to believe they're regretting that decision.
Our judgement of fairness or lack thereof doesn't substitute the judgement of the people who actually own the NFL and pay the commissioner's salary.
Actually, we here in Virginia have a bizarre new system of "civil fees" which amplify a ticket worth tens or hundreds of dollars, with a punitive fee worth thousands.
By this law, going 20 or more miles per hour over the speed limit - reckless driving - can land you with an additional "fee" of $3,000.
I am against this law, not because I habitually drink and drive, speed, or do any of the other things the law forbids, but specifically because of this law's disproportionality.
It's also been documented that the law's author is a partner in a law firm which makes its living from, you guessed it, fighting heavy tickets in court.
However, the best legal avenue to attack the law, is that it only applies to Virginia residents, since out-of-state enforcement is deemed unenforceable.
So that's how they're fighting it.
In the mean time, when the road is absolutely clear and straight, without an upcoming turn in five miles, and there is no one out there except me, my wife, and "radar" (who is constantly checking speed, as the signs advise me,) you can bet the speedometer is now at exactly 9 miles over the posted limit, tops. (After all, you get a ticket at 65 in a 55 zone... why even chance that?)
Would I be that vigilant, were it not for the $3,000 add-on? Don't think so. So it does serve its purpose. But I don't think the fine is fair -- if that's what the ticket is worth, make the ticket $3,000.
But whose fault is it if I get the ticket/fee?
I'll say one more thing -- what about the injury report situation?
I personally have noticed that our team has come out with a ridiculously alarmist injury report once again, in a year when the League is trying its damnedest to make that harder to do.
Am I the only one that sees more possible damage coming from this? Or are we really that banged up?
Or, as is most likely the case, are we meticulously following the letter of the law regarding practices missed, etc., but interpreting ourselves into more trouble?
This sort of bugs me, at the moment, though I
do have something of a lackey mentality on "In Belichick we trust" questions. I do believe that if it's putting the team at further risk, he's not going to do it.
It will, however, piss me off if we end up getting plinked for the injury report too. It seems predictable, if not inevitable. The League is trying to make these more accurate; at first glance, ours looks more murky than ever.
Anybody else getting this sense?
And what if we do get busted on this issue? Am I expected to march in lockstep with other outraged fans, and scream my hatred of Goodell? Or should I simply state that the penalty could be avoided, simply by being mindful of what is going to piss off the league?
Just remember, if we get pinged on this one, you read it here first.
PFnV
