[Butch Cassidy Slept Here]

Judge's description of the fine process matches exactly with my understanding. It's also my understanding the government agrees to deep cuts in the original fines based on the understanding there will be no repeat incidents. So it will be interesting to see what happens if Express Jet or Continental ARE caught perpetrating this misery again. Remember, winter has just begun.

As I've indicated in previous posts, one or more people will need to die (ie: lack of medical attention, or same denied by flight crew) before the issue of tarmac strandings will be taken seriously. Thus, "tombstone regulation" probably rules in this instance.