Law Level of the Imperium

[samuelvss]

IMTU, and in canon as I understand it, the law level of the individual worlds of the Imperium runs right up to the extraterritoriality line; inside this line and throughout imperial space, imperial law applies.

The general CT approach to law level was to use the allowed weaponry as a proxy for describing the law level as it applied, more abstractly, to everything else on the member world.

We can assume that the law level is, aboard ship, akin to 7 for passengers, since the crew impounds all firearms; is it, however, 0 in the starport? "No restrictions?" Can any Joe-schmoe purchase a FGMP-15 on the concourse, and tote it around with him?

There is from my recollection and conjecture a body of imperial law, applying to crimes that occur in imperial but not local jurisdiction, but it is ill-defined at best.

My most dedicated travels through canon are decades old, so I am happy for any input here, starting from canon.

 

[aramis]

Imperial enforcement ends at 10 diameters (per MT COACC).
Local enforcement starts at 100 diameters (ibid.)

Legal systems are defined in JTAS 14 - High Justice, By Terry Mclnnes p.19
It gives that imperial crimes may be multiply prosecuted - local, subsector, sector.
It notes that the imperial courts begin at the sector level.

JUSTICE
If arrested for a crime, an adventurer will have to stand trial. On most worlds, local crimes will be tried before a judge or a panel of judges. Only on worlds with democratic, impersonal bureaucratic, or family/tribal systems of government will the accused usually receive a jury trial, and then only in the case of major crimes.

CRIMES
Adventurers can be charged with a variety of crimes ranging from traffic
violations to treason against the Imperium. The specific charge depends on the current game situation, the players' actions, their location and, if they are falsely charged, who has framed them and why. These factors and the laws to be enforced are largely up to the individual referee, but as a guide, here are some crimes, both minor and major, that could involve a Traveller player character. Note that a major crime on one world may be a minor crime on another and no crime at all on a third, depending on law level.

Minor crimes are subject to enforcement by local police and the low justice of planetary courts. These include smuggling, petty theft (value under Cr100), possession or sale of illegal weapons (as defined in the law level chart of Book 3), brawling in a public place, failure to carry proper identification, loitering, panhandling, disorderly conduct (such as public drunkenness), possession or sale of illegal drugs, and traffic violations. Major crimes can be combated by all three levels of law enforcement, and prosecuted by all three levels of court. Violators are sometimes subject to capital punishment.

Major crimes normally prosecuted by local authorities include murder, assault, robbery, grand theft, illegal use of psionics, forgery, terrorism, and rebellion.

Crimes normally subject to subsector justice include the unlawful introduction of high technology to low technology worlds, the violation of a planetary interdiction, possession and/or use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, and war crimes as defined in the lmperial rules of war.

The prosecutors and high courts of the lmperium concern themselves with crimes that would affect worlds in more than one subsector of the realm. These include the capture, transportation, and possession of slaves, piracy, the murder of Imperial officers, officials, or members of lmperial nobility, theft of lmperial property, treason, and conspiracy to commit treason against the lmperium (note that treason against a planetary government is a local crime.

Note that JTAS 14 also gives resolution mechanics for trials.

 

[samuelvss]

Imperial enforcement ends at 10 diameters (per MT COACC).
Local enforcement starts at 100 diameters (ibid.)

If I am reading this right, then, there is concurrent jurisdiction between 10 and 100 diameters. I guess the question is, "Of whose laws?" Obviously, there is, as JTAS 14 sets out, joint enforcement of imperial laws; but the enforcement of local laws, does that extend to 100 diameters, only 10 diameters, either to the exclusion of the starport and approved approaches?

If the local laws are enforceable within the lowport, that gives some absurd results where the CT trade tables conflict with the local law levels: if I can get a load of firearms at a D class starport (by definition [usually?] a lowport only) on a law level 9 world, then this seems a bit at odds with the MT material.

Note that JTAS 14 also gives resolution mechanics for trials.

This is a great resource; thanks. I don't have it, but as I have a morbid curiosity in matters of justice, I may just have to get it.

 

[aramis]

This is a great resource; thanks. I don't have it, but as I have a morbid curiosity in matters of justice, I may just have to get it.

The JTAS CD is $35... and includes the whole run of JTAS 1-24, and a few CT articles from Challenge.

 

[77topaz]

I've read (on COTI somewhere) that you can't (openly) carry biological weapons, bombs or machineguns in an Imperial starport, and that it is legal, though frowned upon, to carry a submachinegun.

 

[Hyphen]

The JTAS CD is $35... and includes the whole run of JTAS 1-24, and a few CT articles from Challenge.

In fact the PDF is currently on sale at DrivethruRPG. Appparently it includes an index of all the articles at the back.

 

[Dragoner]

The JTAS disk is great, though I also bought #14 back in the dark ages.

IMTU there is a nominal LL of 1 at the starport, though the authorities reserve the right to infringe on anyone else's rights at their pleasure.

 

[CosmicGamer]

3I starports:

Class A, B, C Starports are considered to have Law Level 5; Class D Starports are Law Level 4; and Class E Starports are Law Level 3.

Whilst within the boundaries of an Imperial Starport (inside the XT-line), visitors are permitted to carry a single sidearm or shotgun. This must be kept holstered at all times, except in the event of being used for self-defense. Melee weapons no larger than a dagger are permitted but are expected to be sheathed and stored in plain sight. Explosives of any kind – especially on a Highport – are strictly prohibited. Even the storage of such items aboard ship must be revealed upon – and preferably before – landing. Anything larger than a few grenades will be safely locked away until the owner is ready to leave the port.

On Class A, B and C Starports these restrictions are almost universally enforced.

Exceptions are made on some Class D ports – particularly those
located in more remote areas. A slung rifle or sub-machinegun
will draw the eye of security personnel but, assuming the owner
has a permit, the weapon will not be confiscated unless the
holder does something to suggest he cannot be trusted.

Whilst docked at a Class E port, visitors can expect a blind eye to be turned to the possession of all but the most powerful energy weapons, so long as they remain on board ship and permits are in order. Visitors may carry slug throwers and even laser pistols, with the caveat that they do nothing to attract the attention of security personnel. The SPA realizes that life on the
frontier is dangerous.

 

[rancke]

3I starports:

Class A, B, C Starports are considered to have Law Level 5; Class D Starports are Law Level 4; and Class E Starports are Law Level 3.

Where is this from?

Whilst docked at a Class E port, visitors can expect a blind eye to be turned to the possession of all but the most powerful energy weapons, so long as they remain on board ship and permits are in order. Visitors may carry slug throwers and even laser pistols, with the caveat that they do nothing to attract the attention of security personnel. The SPA realizes that life on the
frontier is dangerous.

Class E starports have no personnel. It seems to me that visitors can expect that there are no rules and no enforcement unless local authorities elect to enforce local laws. There may not even be any extrality line and if there is, it's more likely to be marked by paint than by a fence. If there is an extrality line and the local autorities elect to keep their hands off the starport out of respect for (or fear of) the Imperium, there will be no enforcement at all and thus an effective law level of 0.


Hans

 

[far-trader]

Class E starports have no personnel. It seems to me that visitors can expect that there are no rules and no enforcement unless local authorities elect to enforce local laws. There may not even be any extrality line and if there is, it's more likely to be marked by paint than by a fence. If there is an extrality line and the local autorities elect to keep their hands off the starport out of respect for (or fear of) the Imperium, there will be no enforcement at all and thus an effective law level of 0.

That's my understanding of it as well.

To the original question, I seem to recall a blanket statement somewhere that Starports are (effectively? generally?) Law Level 3 across the Imperium. Where enforced of course.

 

[CosmicGamer]

Where is this from?

Mongoose publication for the 3rd Imperium setting "Starports". http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/91790/Starports?filters=0_0_10134_0_0

Class E starports have no personnel.

QUOTE: Typically, employees will be required to multi-task. It is not unknown for the Port Director himself to oversee maintenance tasks, operate communications, perform security patrols and so on. Typically, a Class E port will have D3 personnel on duty: the Port Director and possibly a technician and/or security officer.

It seems to me that visitors can expect that there are no rules and no enforcement unless local authorities elect to enforce local laws.

QUOTE: Class E Starports are too small and have too few visitors to justify anything more than the most basic security measures. The Port Director will certainly have access to a firearm and at least one CCTV camera will watch the landing pads. In the largest Class E ports, there may be a Chief of Security but he is likely to be around for just eight hours a day, during whatever passes for peak time. If any serious trouble does occur, the Port Director may elect to register a call for assistance with the local emergency services. He is far more likely to do this if the Starport is located in Imperial territory, as involving outside agencies compromises the integrity of the SPA.

There may not even be any extrality line and if there is, it's more likely to be marked by paint than by a fence.

QUOTE: Circling the perimeter will be some form of fence: initially a distinctive metal ring approved by the SPA but over time perhaps patched and repaired with available material. This line, no matter how crude, is significant as it marks the edge of Imperial territory and the limits of SPA authority. This is referred to as the XT-line.

 

[far-trader]

Mongoose publication for the 3rd Imperium setting "Starports":

QUOTE: Class E Starports are too small and have too few visitors to justify anything more than the most basic security measures. The Port Director will certainly have access to a firearm and at least one CCTV camera will watch the landing pads. In the largest Class E ports, there may be a Chief of Security but he is likely to be around for just eight hours a day, during whatever passes for peak time. If any serious trouble does occur, the Port Director may elect to register a call for assistance with the local emergency services. He is far more likely to do this if the Starport is located in Imperial territory, as involving outside agencies compromises the integrity of the SPA.

That's quite a revision from the long established:

Class E: Frontier Installation - Essentially a marked spot of bedrock with no fuel, facilities, or bases present.

EDIT: ...even Mongoose Core Traveller is the old definition. What possessed the author of Starports to throw all that out the airlock and invent a whole new version? What do they envision a Class X Starport being then?

"Lacking in any serious security one can expect the lone Port Director to wear many hats including patrol with his faithful guard fraugh. He or she may have a rusty pistol that may or may not work, but no ammunition for it. In place of a CCTV camera to monitor the landing pads there is a trained owl that will fly off to alert the Port Director if a ship lands. In larger Class X ports the Port Director may have hired a drunkard local as Chief of Security, visitors need not worry unless they wake him or her, in which case a bribe of spirits will solve any issues."

Looks like another Mongoose Publication fail to me.

 

[far-trader]

...He is far more likely to do this if the Starport is located in Imperial territory,

And what the frak is this?! The Starport IS Imperial Territory. Always. Even see "Starports" itself as you quoted below (bolded for emphasis)...

Circling the perimeter will be some form of fence: initially a distinctive metal ring approved by the SPA but over time perhaps patched and repaired with available material. This line, no matter how crude, is significant as it marks the edge of Imperial territory and the limits of SPA authority. This is referred to as the XT-line.

Gah...

 

[CosmicGamer]

That's quite a revision from the long established:

Class E: Frontier Installation - Essentially a marked spot of bedrock with no fuel, facilities, or bases present.

Is anything in other literature specifically said about there being no buildings and no personnel? It's still:

Quote: Class E ports have no refuelling of repair facilities

Yes, I know, that terrible mongoose editing. No, there are not repair facilities that for some reason never get refueled. It should be "no refuelling" OR "repair facilities".

He is far more likely to do this if the Starport is located in Imperial territory,

And what the frak is this?! The Starport IS Imperial Territory. Always.

Wow! So starports in Aslan, Darrian, Zhodani and other territories are all Imperial territory?

Perhaps "He is far more likely to do this if the Starport is located within Imperial territory" is better wording?

Don't have a wealth of literature so not sure what Imperial starports are outside the Imperium.

 

[Carlobrand]

Where is this from?



Class E starports have no personnel. It seems to me that visitors can expect that there are no rules and no enforcement unless local authorities elect to enforce local laws. There may not even be any extrality line and if there is, it's more likely to be marked by paint than by a fence. If there is an extrality line and the local autorities elect to keep their hands off the starport out of respect for (or fear of) the Imperium, there will be no enforcement at all and thus an effective law level of 0.


Hans

Class E starport have no facilities. They might have personnel:

"My name's Joe. I'm the starport director. I'm also the justice of the peace, the chief of maintenance, and the head of the chamber of commerce - when I'm not tendin' my goats. I'm mainly here to keep the pad clear of rockweeds, they really eat up - well, you don't care about that. Anyway, that's what the goats are for. You see that dog there - he's my head of security, the other two are his assistants. I got one law and one law only: you don't bug Joe when he's watchin' his soaps. You see that line over there - you cross that line, you ain't my problem any more. If someone chases you over that line into the port zone, my head of security'll deal with it - unless it's the local law. That'd be Red, the sheriff. They like him, he brings them bones. More apt to bite you if he's chasin' you. If the local law crosses that line chasing you in here after you busted up the bar in town or somethin', I will be more than happy to file a formal protest on your behalf the next time Red n' me get together for poker."

 

[CosmicGamer]

What do they envision a Class X Starport being then?

"Lacking in any serious security one can expect the lone Port Director to wear many hats including patrol with his faithful guard fraugh. He or she may have a rusty pistol that may or may not work, but no ammunition for it. In place of a CCTV camera to monitor the landing pads there is a trained owl that will fly off to alert the Port Director if a ship lands. In larger Class X ports the Port Director may have hired a drunkard local as Chief of Security, visitors need not worry unless they wake him or her, in which case a bribe of spirits will solve any issues."

That's hilarious.

My next character is going into business making vacc suits for the owls and dogs that need to get around Class X starports where there is no breathable atmosphere.

In mongoose X = no starport in the core book. Don't recall mention of it in the Starports book.

 

[far-trader]

Wow! So starports in Aslan, Darrian, Zhodani and other territories are all Imperial territory?

Obviously the references are in the context of Imperial space, it is a 3I (Third Imperium) background publication for another thing, not focused on the others which would be different. Again I refer you to the completeness of my post above, specifically:

Even see "Starports" itself as you quoted below (bolded for emphasis)...

Circling the perimeter will be some form of fence: initially a distinctive metal ring approved by the SPA but over time perhaps patched and repaired with available material. This line, no matter how crude, is significant as it marks the edge of Imperial territory and the limits of SPA authority. This is referred to as the XT-line.

 

[far-trader]

That's hilarious.

My next character is going into business making vacc suits for the owls and dogs that need to get around Class X starports where there is no breathable atmosphere.

FT "Do you like our owl?"

CG "Is it artificial?"

FT "Of course it is."

CG "So you won't be needing the special small flying animal vacc suit then?"


...and fraughs are genetically engineered to not need an atmosphere for extended periods

EDIT: Though I have wondered about other vacc-suits from time to time. Child sized, youth sized, pet sized. I did work one up for an NPC's pet/ship mascot monkey back in the dark ages

 

[far-trader]

I hope you'll forgive my... annoyance. Stuff like this pains me. It seems a pointless revision that wipes out countless previous materials for no net gain. It makes me wonder what if any editorial control and proof-reading is done. Especially when it contradicts the latest, self-same, and current core rules.

 

[rancke]

I hope you'll forgive my... annoyance. Stuff like this pains me. It seems a pointless revision that wipes out countless previous materials for no net gain.

Here's a suggestion: Starport descriptions reflect the minimum facilities needed to qualify for that classification. Thus I don't believe very many Class C starports actually lack refined fuel (A fuel purifier plant is far too cheap for that to make sense). It's just that it doesn't need to have refined fuel to qualify for Class C status. In the same way I'd interpret this Mongoose revision to mean that Class E starports can have personnel; it just don't need it to qualify for a Class E rating. As long as it doesn't have everything it needs for a Class D rating but do have a beacon and a bare stretch of bedrock, it's Class E.


Hans