Zero tolerance...

The topic of zero tolerance came up this week and I wanted to vent. Zero tolerance had good intentions - violate the rule and receive no quarter. The concept put into practice to the extent that it is makes it ridiculous.
We have "zero tolerance" to thank for a girl getting expelled for giving another girl a Midol. She was lumped in with crack and heroin dealers and there is zero tolerance for drug dealing on school grounds. It cropped up when a kindergarten student hugged a friend on the playground. There is zero tolerance for "sexual contact". It showed it's face when an elementary student held up a fish stick in the lunch room and pretended to shoot it. There is zero tolerance for firearms (and apparently imagination as well).
Zero tolerance has taken the decision making authority from our school officials, police officers, and judges. There is no decision to be made about intent or fairness - and no responsibility to be taken for any decision made. The written policy or law has already made the decision and outlined the punishment with no allowance for variance. It has tied the hands of the very authorities we entrust with decision-making power. Zero tolerance has taken common sense and thrown it out of the window.