You make a very good point. The act has to have teeth. When people violate the act, the penalty has to reflect the severity of the violation. Simply because it is a person's first violation, that does not mean the violation is not serious. The severity of the action is what matters, not the number of times the person acted that way. It is not enough to inform the person of the rules the first time and to tell them that, the second or third time, they will face such and such a consequence. Clarity is also needed around what constitutes a serious violation versus a minor violation. All violations can't be put in the same category.
At any rate, it's fine to show people some understanding, but serious questions still need to be asked. How could you have made such a mistake and showed such a lack of judgment? Don't you think you should have had someone validate your decision?