Infraction System for Guideline Violations

The infraction point system ensures users are aware of proper conduct in our forums, in accordance to our forum guidelines and terms of use.

EE violations

1. General - 1 pt - 45 days
2. Illegal items - 5pt - permanent: posting of illegal items or items of questionable origin
3. Chronic Violations - 5 pts -30 days for life time violations more than or equal to 10
4. Chronic Violations - 5 pts -60 days for life time violations more than or equal to 15
5. Cheating BTT First Time -2pt - 45days : intentional circumvention of the programmed time limit to bump thread
6. Cheating BTT /Major Violations-5pt - 30 days : intentional circumvention of the programmed time limit to bump thread with a history of at least one Cheating BTT First Time on record, or other major violations

1. 1st time offender -1 points - 30 days : for first time violation by members with excellent standings in the past.
2. 1st Strike -1 points -60 days
3. 2 nd strike - 2 points - 90 days + optional 5 day suspension by moderator
4. 3 rd strike -2 points - 180 days + optional 5 day suspension by moderator
5. 4th strike 10 points - 180 days + optional 5 day suspension by moderator
6. After 4 strikes 11 points - 180 days

Outcome of point accummulation:
1. 3 points - OT and News Digest access suspension.
2. 5 points - EE access suspension. EE infraction point expiration periods accumulate - for example, if two infractions are awarded two days apart, both infractions will not expire until 45X2-2 = 88 days after.
3. 11 points - 120 days suspension. The 4th strike is worth 10 points and they will expire in half of a year. Note that the expiration period of the 4th strike is longer than the suspension. This means there will be a probation period of 2 months with no EE and OT access after account is reopen.
4. After a 4 strike has been awarded at one point, a After 4 strike will be awarded subsequently and it will impose an automatic suspension of 120 days
5. When a 3rd strike or a 4th strike infraction is given, moderators have the discretion to manually input a suspension of no more than 5 days.

Due to the system change in how we assign infraction point on June 15th, 2009, we will be implementing the following transition policy for infraction given earlier:
1. all infraction points before June 15th, 2009 is counted as the 1st strike.
2. The first infraction received after Jun 14th, 2009, will be considered the 2nd strike unless the member has no prior infraction before Jun 15th, 2009.

Infraction Strike Forgiveness:

1. If the last infraction is a 1st strike, the next infraction will be counted as a 1st strike if there has been at least 1 year since the last 1st strike infraction was issued.
2. If the last infraction is a 2rd strike, the next infraction will be counted as a 1st strike if there has been at least 2 years since the last 2nd strike infraction was issued.
3. If the last infraction is a 3rd strike, the next infraction will be counted as a 1st strike if there has been at least 3 years since the last 3rd strike infraction was issued.

Infraction Review Process:

1. The moderator who issues the warning/infraction is the first and only contact when the member has question about the infraction. The moderator should provide at least 1 response to the member.
2. If the infraction is NOT a: 3rd strike, 4th strike, or after 4th Strike: After the first response is given, the moderator can explicitly decline to discuss the issue any further. No more messages on this particular infraction should be sent to the moderators.
3. If the infraction is a: 3rd strike, 4th strike or after 4th Strike: The moderator can tell the member to ask for a review by the administrator and decline to accept no more inquiry on the particular infraction. If a member does not receive a response from a moderator in 3 business days, a request can be sent to the admin directly.