[Note: the policy was received in upper case and is presented that way here, verbatim.]

                        ZERO TOLERANCE


AS OF THE 1998 SPRING NABC, ZERO TOLERANCE IS ACBL POLICY.
THE BOARD CITED LAWS 74, 80F, 81C4, 90A, 91 AND 92A AS THE
BASIS FOR "WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ALL PLAYERS DURING NABCS AND
OTHER ACBL-SPONSORED EVENTS, AS WELL AS IN THE PLAYING AREA
BEFORE AND AFTER EACH SESSION."

COMMENDABLE BEHAVIOR INCLUDES (BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO):
     . BEING A GOOD HOST OR GUEST AT THE TABLE
     . GREETING OTHERS IN A FRIENDLY MANNER
     . PRAISING THE BIDDING OR PLAY OF THE OPPONENTS
     . HAVING TWO CLEARLY COMPLETED CONVENTION CARDS READILY
       AVAILABLE TO THE OPPONENTS. THIS IS ALSO A REGULATION.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR INCLUDES (BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO):
     . BADGERING, RUDENESS, INSINUATIONS, INTIMIDATION,
       PROFANITY, THREATS OR VIOLENCE
     . NEGATIVE COMMENTS CONCERNING THE PLAY OR BIDDING OF
       THE OPPONENTS OR PARTNER
     . GLOATING OVER GOOD RESULTS
     . CONSTANT AND GRATUITOUS LESSONS AND ANALYSES AT THE
       TABLE
     . LOUD AND DISRUPTIVE ARGUING WITH A DIRECTOR'S RULING

AT THE START OF EACH EVENT, THE DIRECTOR WILL ANNOUNCE THAT
THE TOURNAMENT IS OBSERVING ZERO TOLERANCE FOR UNACCEPTABLE
BEHAVIOR.  WHEN BEHAVIOR IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE
GUIDELINES OUTLINED ABOVE, THE DIRECTOR SHOULD BE CALLED.

THE DIRECTOR WILL THEN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE FACTS.  IF HE
ESTABLISHES THERE WAS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR, AN IMMEDIATE 1/4
BOARD DISCIPLINARY PENALTY (3 IMPS IN TEAM GAMES) SHALL BE
ASSIGNED TO ALL OFFENDERS.  THIS MAY INVOLVE ANY ONE OR ALL
FOUR PLAYERS AT THE TABLE, REGARDLESS OF WHO INITIATED THE
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.  IF BOTH MEMBERS OF A PARTNERSHIP ARE
GUILTY, THE PENALTIES ARE CUMULATIVE (1/4 BOARD EACH = 1/2
BOARD OR 3 IMPS EACH = 6 IMPS).

WARNINGS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED AND WILL BE GIVEN ONLY WHEN
THERE IS NO CLEAR VIOLATION OR IN CASES WHERE THE FACTS
CANNOT BE DETERMINED.  OFFENDERS ARE TO RECEIVE IMMEDIATE
PENALTIES.  REGARDLESS OF WHO MAY HAVE INITIATED UNACCEPTABLE
BEHAVIOR, ALL OFFENSES ARE PUNISHABLE.  RETALIATORY BEHAVIOR
IS A PUNISHABLE OFFENSE.  FRIVOLOUS ACCUSATIONS WILL ALSO BE
CONSIDERED AS OFFENSES UNDER THIS POLICY.