StuffOnline (Laws)

Imperial Ship Regulations

Regulations

All pilots operating a space craft must be properly certified to pilot the craft in question in the manner it is being used. (eg. A ship carrying cargo must be piloted by a character certified to pilot that craft and authorised to transport cargo.)
[Fine and/or impoundment]
All operational craft must have visible identification numbers present on the hull in a position of unobstructed view.
[Fine]
It is illegal to have falsified identification numbers present on any space craft.
[Fine and/or impoundment]
All space craft in use must be kept in proper working order to prevent safety hazards which may endanger the crew, occupants, or innocent bystanders.
[Fine and/or impoundment]
A craft may be registered under one world authority at any one time (called the Port of Registry). Registration may be altered, but only after proper data has been processed and new registration documents issued to the owner. Until new registration documents have been received, the ship is still considered to be registered under the previous Port of Authority.
[Fine and/or imprisonment and/or impoundment]
Any derelict space craft found in space devoid of intelligent life may be claimed by the discoverer. The claimee becomes the owner of said craft and will retain all salvage rights. If however, the claimee is working for a corporation while making the find, the craft becomes the property of the corporation employing him. Said corporation will then retain all salvage rights for the craft in question. Violation of one's legal claim is piracy.
[Fine and/or imprisonment]
Distress signals are prohibited from use unless an actual emergency situation is at hand. An emergency is classified as any situation in which life (intelligent life) is in danger of harm. An emergency may be extended to protect non-intelligent life or inanimate objects of great value.
[Fine and/or impoundment]
Space travellers must always respond to distress signals. NO EXCEPTIONS. If the craft is already in the process of responding to a different distress signal, it must remain in position until a secondary craft may be signalled to come to its aid. At such time, the two craft may decide among themselves who is to proceed to which location. Once this is decided, the craft must proceed with all haste. (Stalling to make a decision on who is to proceed where is considered a violation of this law.)
[Fine and/or imprisonment]
All cargo transported on a craft must be properly logged. All data concerning cargo must be easily available by the pilot in case authorities require information regarding it. Any cargo not properly recorded on the manifests may be considered smuggling.
[If smuggling is not considered to be the reason for the manifests being improper, then the punishment is limited to only a fine. Else fine and/or imprisonment and/or impoundment]
Any cargo which requires specialised procedures for transport (usually hazardous materials) require the pilot to be issued a specialised certification for handling the materials in question. Such materials may not be transported by someone without such a licence, no matter what Port of Registry the ship is registered under.
[Fine and/or impoundment]
Any attack on a spacecraft is illegal, unless performed in self defence. (An attack is defined as any physical assault or sabotage inflicted on a craft or its crew. This includes any situation in which a crewmember of another craft is on board as a guest or with the intent to commit injury.)
[Fine and/or imprisonment and/or impoundment]