[blml] Is Liable

[Wayne Burrows]

"LAW 43 - DUMMY'S LIMITATIONS
Except as specified in Law 42:
A.	Limitations on Dummy
1.	General Limitations
(a)	Calling the Director
	Unless attention has been drawn to an irregularity by another player,
dummy should not initiate a call for the Director during play.
(b)	Calling Attention to Irregularity
	Dummy may not call attention to an irregularity during play.
(c)	Participate in or Comment on Play
	Dummy must not participate in the play, nor may he communicate
anything about the play to declarer.
2.	Limitations Carrying Specific Penalty
(a) 	Exchanging Hands
	Dummy may not exchange hands with declarer.
(b)  	Leave Seat to Watch Declarer
	Dummy may not leave his seat to watch declarer's play of the hand.
(c) 	Look at Defender's Hand
	Dummy may not, on his own initiative, look at the face of a card in
either defender's hand.
B.	Penalties for Violation
1.	General Penalties
Dummy is liable to penalty under Law 90 for any violation of the
limitations listed in A1 or A2 preceding.
"

L43B1 says that dummy "...is liable...".

In my mind this means that the penalty should be automatically
assessed.  If this was not the intention then better wording for L43B1
would be "...may be liable...".

The problem is that L90 allows the director discretion:

"LAW 90 - PROCEDURAL PENALTIES
A.	Director's Authority
The Director, in addition to enforcing the penalty provisions of these
Laws, may also assess penalties for any offence that unduly delays or
obstructs the game, inconveniences other contestants, violates correct
procedure, or requires the award of an adjusted score at another
table."

The director "...may..." penalize.

However L43 says that dummy is liable to penalty not merely liable to
the TDs discretion.  That latter liability is there without the
reference in L43.  Therefore I think the stronger interpretation of
L43 is justified.

Is there any dispute on this?

Wayne