24 Penalties
Any team failing to comply with the regulations will be penalized. Except for the last day of the event, all penalties will be posted at event headquarters by 12:00 PM (noon) the following day. On the last day of the event, penalties will be posted no later than one hour after the finish of the event. Penalties shall be rounded to the nearest complete lap for closed-track events.
24.1 Disturbing Official Battery Seal
A battery seal broken without official supervision, in a manner that would allow battery access, will result in the assessment of a 60 mile penalty.
24.2 Replacement of Batteries
Battery replacement will be penalized as provided in Section 15.2 of these regulations.
24.3 Non-Solar Charging of Batteries
Any team using an alternative means to charge their main solar car batteries during the event (other than utilizing solar energy or regenerative brakes) will be disqualified. Teams charging supplemental batteries are required to have an event official present to avoid any misunderstandings, and to prevent the application of this severe penalty.
24.4 Failure to Comply with Stops
Failure to comply with the mandatory stops during each day of the event will incur a 15 mile penalty for each infraction. Teams must drive the two miles preceding and following the Starting Line, the Finish Line, Mandatory Stops, and specified cities. In the event that a vehicle is mechanically unable to drive the two miles, and is in the process of being trailered, no penalty will be assessed so long as the Team Judge feels that this would be in the best interest of safety. A team failing to make a required stop forfeits any opportunity to receive that day’s Daily Trophy.
24.5 Failure to Allow Others to Pass
Failure to pull over in accordance with Section 20 will incur a major penalty, as determined by the appropriate event official.
24.6 Traffic Violations
Any team committing a traffic violation will be penalized. All non-moving traffic violations will result in a 2.5 mile penalty. A moving traffic violation will result in a penalty ranging from 5 miles to disqualification. Any driver who commits two moving violations over the course of the event will be disqualified to drive.
24.7 Failure to Attend a Teams Meeting
Failure to attend a teams meeting each day will incur a 10 mile penalty.
24.8 Conduct
An event official may assess penalties ranging from 2.5 miles to disqualification for improper or un-sportsman-like conduct. Such conduct may include, but is not limited to, disrespect to judges and staff, improper language, gestures, questionable attitude, cheating, and use of tobacco products, alcohol, or controlled substances. Overly competitive team rhetoric will be deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.
24.9 Failure to Comply with Regulations
An event official may assess penalties ranging from 1 mile to disqualification for a team’s failure to comply with any regulation, appendix, or Rules Update not otherwise specifically set out in these rules. “Failure to Comply with Regulations” includes both “in fact” and “in spirit” violations that create a danger to the event or its participants.
24.10 Failure to Secure
Teams failing to secure loose equipment (on either the solar car or support vehicles) when they are in motion may be penalized up to 5 miles.
24.11 Hats
All participants (including students, sponsors, chaperones, advisors, and others participating or traveling with team) must wear full-brimmed hats when in direct sunlight. Failure to wear the full-brimmed hat will incur a 1 mile penalty.
24.12 Closed-Toe Shoes
All participants (including students, sponsors, chaperones, advisors, and others participating or traveling with team) are required to wear closed-toe shoes throughout the event. Failure to wear close-toed shoes during these times will incur a 1 mile penalty.
24.13 Protective Eyewear
Teams working on their solar car within the garage area are required to wear protective eyewear. Failure to wear protective eyewear will incur a 1 mile penalty.
24.14 Student Involvement
Per Section 3.8, the intent of the event is that the solar cars be designed and constructed by high school students. Teams may be disqualified if the planning and construction of the solar car is not done by students.