Purpose:
To define behavior considered unacceptable and inappropriate when demonstrated by any
club member
To provide guidelines for disciplinary action
To outline the procedural steps taken during the process of handling a “Code of
Conduct,” (COC) complaint
Expectations:
Members are to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner from the time they arrive at a race venue or sponsored event until the time they leave.
It is to be understood by all members that a race venue includes, but is not limited to, the track, pit area, staging area, hot chute, bleachers, concessions, walkways and drives, areas associated with the parking lot, areas associated with camping or parking that is used by or for the event. Location will also include places used for off-site exhibitions, banquets, and other events in which CIQMA members participate or are representing CIQMA.
Authority:
Any club member in good standing may initiate a “Code of Conduct” on another club member if he/she believes a COC infraction has occurred.
The CIQMA Sergeant at Arms shall be the Board official who receives all COC complaints. The Sergeant at Arms shall then investigate and determine if a COC complaint has merit.
If a COC complaint is found to have merit by the Sergeant at Arms, the CIQMA Board of Directors shall then determine if a COC infraction was committed by the member. If it is determined that a member committed a COC infraction, the CIQMA BOD will administer the appropriate disciplinary action.
Degrees of Infractions:
1st Degree Infraction: A 1st Degree Infraction has occurred if….
A member or driver causes a disturbance to the extent that an event is disrupted.
A member or driver causes a disturbance or disruption and fails to comply with a request made by the Race Official, Board member or Sergeant at Arms to stop.
A member or driver refuses to follow established safety rules and/or behaves in a manner that is unsafe to him/herself or another individual and refuses a request by the Race Official, Board member or Sergeant at Arms to stop.
A member or driver uses abusive or profane language in the presence of another individual and/or child.
A member or driver taunts, antagonizes, intimidates, threatens or uses obscene gestures directed at another individual.
It is the discretion of the Sergeant at Arms to issue a verbal warning in lieu of accepting a COC complaint
2nd Degree Infraction: A 2nd Degree Infraction has occurred if…
A member engages in continuous verbal berating of a child and/or driver that creates an embarrassing or threatening situation for the child and/or driver and any other person(s) who witnesses the behavior.
A member ignores an order by the Race Official, Sergeant at Arms or Board member to remove him/herself to a designated area for tempers to cool, or ignores an order to leave the premises altogether.
A member or driver threatens another individual with physical violence or offensive personal contact.*
* It is a reasonable response and/or defense should a third-party member use physical contact to separate a member(s) who is at risk to act out, or is engaged in, aggressive physical contact with another individual.
3rd Degree Infraction: A 3rd Degree Infraction has occurred if…
A member or driver physically assaults another individual.*
A member or driver willfully damages or destroys the property of another individual.
A member or driver exposes him/herself in a sexually inappropriate manner to another individual.
A member or driver engages in any sexually inappropriate contact with another adult member.
It is evident that a member or driver is under the influence of drugs.
If at anytime, during the start of racing competition until its complete conclusion, it is evident that a member or driver is under the influence of alcohol.
A member or driver is found to be in possession of illegal drugs.
* It is a reasonable response and/or defense should a third-party member use physical contact to separate a
member who is at risk to act out, or is engaged in, aggressive physical contact with another individual.
Law Enforcement may be called for any 3rd degree infraction
4th Degree Infraction: A 4th Degree Infraction has occurred if...
An adult member or driver physically assaults a child involving injury.
An adult member or driver has sexual contact with a child.
An adult member or driver threatens another individual with a weapon or displays a weapon in a reckless and/or threatening manner.
If a member or driver is intoxicated to the degree that he/she is a danger to him/herself or others.
Law Enforcement must be notified of any 4th degree infraction
Initiation of a “Code of Conduct” Complaint
A member should contact a Race Official, the Sergeant at Arms or any Board member if he/she believes a COC infraction has occurred and wishes to file a COC complaint.
Any and all COC documentation is to be filed with the Sergeant at Arms within 24 hours of the alleged incident.
The Sergeant at Arms will determine if the COC complaint has merit.
If The Sergeant at Arms determines a COC complaint has merit, only The Sergeant at Arms has the authority to convene the Board for a COC hearing.
The Board will hold a hearing for the purpose of determining if the member(s) named in the complaint has/has not committed a COC infraction.
If a member is found to be liable for a COC infraction, the Board will determine the appropriate disciplinary action and administer it accordingly.
Hearing of Infraction Charges
All Code of Conduct hearings are strictly confidential.
The member named in the COC complaint shall be informed of the reported infraction and the names of the person(s) who filed the complaint.
At the recommendation of the Sergeant at Arms, the BOD shall convene a COC hearing to gather and discuss the details of the infraction reported in the COC complaint.
Two-thirds of BOD members must be present to constitute the quorum charged with hearing information and/or testimony during a COC hearing.
A Board member will recuse him/herself if the member named in the COC complaint requests and the request is considered reasonable by the majority of the BOD members in attendance. In this case, the Board may appoint another BOD member to replace the recused if the requirements of a quorum are no longer met.
The member named in the COC complaint may appoint an advocate to participate on the panel with the Board members hearing information and/or testimony.
Information and/or testimony may be given by the member who filed the COC complaint, the member named in the COC complaint accused of the infraction and any witnesses to the incident. Testimonies of these three parties will be given separately during the hearing.
The member named in the COC complaint may present witnesses on his/her behalf including legal counsel.
Upon completion of the COC hearing the Board will determine a verdict. A verdict must be the majority vote of the Board. An advocate of the member named in the COC complaint may not vote.
1 of 2 verdicts will be determined within 48 hours of the COC hearing:
○Sustained with Merit – the Board will render disciplinary action.
○Without Merit – the Board will dismiss the complaint. No action is taken.
A verdict will be delivered via electronic mail and followed by a certified letter mailed to the member.
A sustained verdict may be appealed.
An appeal must be filed within 5 days of the date the verdict was rendered.
An appeal may be filed to a USAC sister club in the same region that is mutually agreed upon by the Board and the member named in the COC complaint.
The appeal verdict shall be final.
Disciplinary Action
All discipline is progressive in nature.
All discipline should meet the level of the infraction.
All discipline should be firm but fair.
All discipline should take into consideration the children effected.
Disciplinary action that may be taken, but is not limited to the following:
A Letter of reprimand that includes a written warning
Suspension from one club race
30 day suspension from club racing
60 day suspension from club racing
1yr suspension from club racing
Permanent termination of club membership