Appropriate penalties for off-the-field ethical/behavioral violations

[Karthik]

For years, I've been hearing the story of a team who showed up to inspection with a hollowed out battery. Does anyone know what happened to this team? I'd be interested to see what sort of precedent was set.

This is the type of act that need a severe type of punishment. If a team is only given a slap on the wrist for this type of action, it only serves to insult all the teams who were honest and rule abiding. It becomes very frustrating to see other teams get away with major infractions, especially if they walk away with trophies. It creates the attitude among some of the "good" teams of "well if they did it and got away with it, why shouldn't we". Now most "good" teams will respond by saying "cheaters never prosper". Unfortunately as some cheaters gain short term success (because in the long run, these cheaters do lose), others may join them. It's easy to fall into the trap of jumping at short term rewards.

Types of punishment? I still need to think that over. There are a lot of factors to mull. We don't want a punishment too harsh, that it forces teams out of FIRST. (Remember, chances are the whole team wouldn't be in on the cheating) On the other hand, the punishment needs to be severe enough teams who are considering breaking the rules think twice.