What is this EU arrest happy business?

[Veyron]

F1 teams threaten to boycott European races
''This is a matter of serious concern'' [19/01/04 - 21:43]

Formula One team bosses have warned they could boycott races in Europe over new European Union (EU) regulations relating to deaths of drivers.

Team chiefs want guarantees from governments that they will be exempt from arrest warrants in the event of fatalities.

"This is a matter of serious concern," FIA president Max Mosley said on the BBC website. "We will continue to talk with the various EU governments and the European Commission to try and resolve it."

Teams fear a repeat of the marathon on-going legal process following the death of Brazil's three-time former world champion Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, almost a decade ago.

Williams technical director Patrick Head and former chief designer Adrian Newey were acquitted of manslaughter in 1997. The verdict was upheld on appeal in 1999 but the two were told last year that they face a new appeal court hearing into Senna's accident.

Eight EU member states have implemented the new regulations while the seven remaining members - including France, Germany and Italy - have pledged to implement the legislation by March.

Source

I don't really think the sponsors will let these politicians get in the way, but I'm going to rant anyway.

I think it's absolutely ludicrous! It's political correctness gone mad wrapped up in the pussification of the world. More social crap similar to people who think they have the right not to be offended, well being offended is part of life as death is sometimes part of racing.

After all the steps taken in the name of safety the past decade, some of it overkill, It's ridiculous to think that some governing body isn't going to have enough grip on reality to realize that accidents happen regardless.

Somebody in the EU law making influence doesn't like racing, that's the only conclusion I can come to. Someone is in effect trying to abolish racing, then it will spread to any sport where a death occured or could occur.

What are these idiots going to do about all the fatal accidents on public roads?

Brian

[2turboimports]

there's gotta be something behind this. that makes no sense at all. none at all! there has to be something else behind this, and not someone is trying to abolish racing, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Although the first draft of this new street racing law in florida did say there was to be NO sanctioned racing except at licensed race tracks. then i guess the scca got on the horn and they revised it. so maybe it is just the EU being goofy

[Focus2000]

I'm sure the entire reason for the existence of the EU is to meddle into the lives of ordinary people in as many ways as possible. This is another example of petty beauracracy gone mad.

This law is ridiculous because racing drivers compete knowing full well the risks that they are undertaking. It's not like they are blind to the dangers and are unwittingly putting their lives at risk. The case of Senna's death and the ongoing trial is a perfact example. It's not like Frank Williams sneaked into the garage overnight and took a hacksaw to Senna's steering column. Senna was more than aware of the risk, particularly after the death of Roland Ratzenburger the day before, but he still got in the car of his own free will.

[ales]

I want to say something as a comment from myself, but I really don't know what to say! Other than they'd better reach some sort of solution and fast. Here's the latest development:

Originally Posted by [url=ttp://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=8420

pitpass[/url]]
F1 and EU heading for showdown?
22-01-2004


With the issue of tobacco still smouldering away in the background, Formula One and the European Union looks to be heading towards another showdown over the issue of the newly introduced European Arrest Warrants.
Teams are threatening to boycott European rounds of the World Championship unless there are binding assurances that these procedures will not be used against them in the event of a fatal accident. FIA President Max Mosley has said that F1 teams were not seeking immunity from prosecution, merely an exemption from this particular law.

The European Union has hit back by stating that exemption will not be given.

"Mr Mosley is not above the law and the European Arrest Warrants apply to all citizens," spokesperson Antonio Vitorino, the European commissioner for Justice and Human Affairs, told AFP yesterday. "The debate has been closed for some time and is technically impossible to reopen. Formula 1 chiefs are waking up too late.

"In any case we don't see why we would have to make an exception and why we shouldn't have confidence in the justice system. It isn't just in sport that there are people with a high notion of responsibility."

Mosley hit back, issuing an official statement that read: "Mr Vitorino is clearly unaware that one EU government has already confirmed that the relevant provisions of the European Arrest Warrant do not apply to sport. We anticipate that other EU governments will agree.

"No F1 team considers itself above the law," the statement continued, "but they will not race where they do not feel safe. Mr Vitorino may not understand this but those who apply EU laws do."

[ales]

Some more:

Originally Posted by Max Mosley

PRESS INFORMATION
LETTER TO EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE
The following correspondence was sent today by FIA President Max Mosley to
European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, Mr Antonio Vitorino:
Dear Commissioner,
Your spokesman, a Mr Petrucci, has been widely quoted in the press as saying “Mr
Mosley is not above the law” and that the Formula One teams have “woken up to the
European Arrest Warrant too late”.
Both allegations are unacceptable. The one implies that I wish to be above the law,
which is untrue and libelous. The other is also false, in that the teams and their
representatives have had innumerable meetings with Commission officials on the
European Arrest Warrant, culminating in a meeting on 7 July 2003 with the Director-
General of your directorate, Mr Jonathan Faull, together with a member of your
cabinet.
Your spokesman has clearly not made the slightest effort to ascertain the truth before
speaking to the press. I leave it to you to take appropriate disciplinary action.
However, this is not the first time that a Commission spokesperson has sought to
damage the FIA. On the last occasion, action in the European Court of Justice
resulted in a formal public apology from the Commission. In the circumstances, I
think it appropriate to send a copy of this letter to Mr Prodi.
Yours sincerely,
Max Mosley
Paris, 22 January, 2004
FOR MEDIA INFORMATION PURPOSES - NO REGULATORY VALUE

[simdel1]

this is the same bunch of comical jokers that are going to make businesses consult workers over which brand of coffee to buy for the cofee machine and even what colour the carpets should be. This is PC gone mad. will car companies be sued if someone dies in a road crash, will the met office be sued if someone dies in freak weather. where will it end