Its true… crossing the yellow line can be tragic. A couple years back (2005) there was a head on collision at the Bala Triathlon. I don’t know the details, but from what I heard someone was trying to pass a bunch 3 abreast and crossed the yellow line hitting someone going the opposite way. I believe someone was sent to the hospital with pretty serious neck injuries.
Dev: I think the officials with no race comment was a bit off. In the past, I would have agreed with you, but I see more triathletes with lots of race experience coming into the officials fold these days. Case in point, in my USAT training class in Boise last year had a 5 time US - 2 time world champion, another dude was AG winner at Vineman and Wildfower, Kona finisher etc, and myself. That said, I have run across some officials that have barely done 2 or 3 races in their lives, and it strikes me as weird that you have no real race experience and still be an official.
That said, I’m sure my racing experience gives me a whole different perspective that those officials who have never done event. I’m believe I am less strict and always try to give the benefit of the doubt to a racer. I also try to keep the type of race in perspective. In a small local race, with 100 or so people, I’m not going to be as strict. I did penalize one guy for a centerline at one of these events, simply because it was flagrant and he had options to avoid it. Drafters however, get no breaks when I’m around! But say if I were calling at a race such as Muskoka, it’d be a different ball game. Big race, lots of racers, and lots of experienced people who SHOULD KNOW THE RULES. It is the racer’s RESPONSIBILITY to know the rules. And 2 times across the centerline certainly qualifies for a DQ in my eyes.
And no, the race director cannot have penalties overturned. Someone can whine all they want, but ignorance is no excuse.
Hey Sto, I do agree that many officials have race experience, but there are many that have minimal to no race time under there belts. Some are spouses of racers (in fact for years the head ref in Ontario, to my best knowledge had never done a tri, but she was very involved in the community…still, I would contend that many of her calls were way too “black and white” even though I was never a victim… 
), who are contributing to the sport, and kudos to them. However, the situation is like having a hockey ref who has never played the game and does not know the nuances of situational vs safety vs intentional violations etc etc. In those situations, the athlete has a right to have an on field discussion with the official in an civilized manner. Again, it comes down to guilty without a trial. The onfield discussion gives the athlete a momentary chance to explain the situation. In pro sports they have instant replay where an official’s mistake can be overturned. In our case, we don’t have that, but officials are NOT always right…generally they are, but like I said, unless they are travelling on a moto with a tape measure and stop watch, it all comes down to judgement. I’m not defending the kid, I’m just saying that there needs to be some lattitude for explanation as officials do make mistakes.
Anyway, there are some things that are clear cut like Yellow line. No way an athlete should get an IMNA slot after that (if that is the case). I’d also like to see DQ athletes listed as DNF at the bottom of the list with a DQ beside their name. It really irks me when sportstats puts them in the standings with a DQ beside the name…F&*K that!