What is "Contraband"

[Jboy2000000]

This is a question, as it stands, the contraband charge only says "contraband" items, but not exactly what contraband is. Someone said "items illegal on Biesel," but baseball bats and certain firearms ARE illegal on Biesel, I would assume, and both those are considered contraband. What I experienced was, I was charged someone with contraband for buying Syndicakes from a hacked vendor, and after an IAA/Layer messaged CC, a DO said they were indeed NOT contraband, and Ill accept that, but the way I see it, the only way to get those items are to hack and vandalize and pre-programmed vendor Nanotrasen made/bought from somewhere, so I thought contraband. So, what Im asking is, what EXACTLY makes something on the station contraband?

[Jamini]

This is a question, as it stands, the contraband charge only says "contraband" items, but not exactly what contraband is. Someone said "items illegal on Biesel," but baseball bats and certain firearms ARE illegal on Biesel, I would assume, and both those are considered contraband. What I experienced was, I was charged someone with contraband for buying Syndicakes from a hacked vendor, and after an IAA/Layer messaged CC, a DO said they were indeed NOT contraband, and Ill accept that, but the way I see it, the only way to get those items are to hack and vandalize and pre-programmed vendor Nanotrasen made/bought from somewhere, so I thought contraband. So, what Im asking is, what EXACTLY makes something on the station contraband?

 

Contraband:

1. Non-medical drugs outside of chemistry without a prescription or executive permission. (Medical personnel are considered to have a permit to carry soporifics.)

2. Lethal weapons without a permit or executive permission. (The following job roles are assumed to have a permit: Captain, HoP, HoS, Warden, Detective) - Note, this does not include security officers. Force Gloves are currently included up here.

3. Non-Lethal weapons without a permit or security permission. (The following job roles are assumed to have a permit for nonlethal weapons: Command (all), Security (all)) Stun gloves are generally included here.

4. Obvious nonstandard tools. Including but not limited to:

-Emags

-Chameleon jumpsuits

-Energy Shields

-Nonstandard implants

-Illegally modified PDAs

-singularity beacons

-Power sinks

Note: Security generally do not have sufficient training to identify most nonstandard items. At most they see something unusual. You should be checking with research or engineering for most traitor items! Just because in a meta sense you know how something works does not mean you ICly know how they work!

Note: Science are permitted by default to have contraband within the labs, so long as it does not leave the lab, for the purpose of study and research.

[Eliot Clef]

"Stuff from the vending machines", even if the vending machines had to be hacked, don't generally qualify as contraband. It's usually silly stuff, or maybe slightly better equipment than the machine would normally give you.

[Guest]

13 Loko is contraband (hacked soda machine) because its toxic.

[TishinaStalker]

Spoons are contraband in the kitchen vendor... We probably shouldn't arrest someone for contraband because they have a spoon.

[Eliot Clef]

Looking at all of the stuff that can be acquired from hacked vending machines, I'd be inclined to assume that only 13 Loko is really contraband, and even then only because it's toxic -- not because it's from a hacked vendor.

You could make arguments about stuff like the butcher's cleaver and knife, but as long as those are where they're supposed to be (kitchen area), I don't really see them as any more hazardous than the normal knives. (Is there something special about them?)

[Jamini]

Loko is only toxic SOME times. In high amounts.

It has this nifty little proc that gives it random effects.

..but yes, Loko is generally contraband due to how dangerous it is. It would fall under Non-medical drugs IIRC.

[Skull132]

Temper this with actual legitimate reason. If they have like a hacked softdrink that doesn't really do anything to anyone, then you should probably just let them be.

[Jamini]

Temper this with actual legitimate reason. If they have like a hacked softdrink that doesn't really do anything to anyone, then you should probably just let them be.

 

Loko 13 is actually moderately dangerous to drink. Syndicakes aren't. Ergo the former is probably contraband due to the danger.

[Guest]

Contraband is described as a nonstandard, out of the ordinary item that doesn't really belong in the workplace on a space station. It needs to present some sort of danger to the crew or the station to be any valid as a charge.

[Tainavaa]

I think Skull's point is to let them be because as a security force, your job is to ensure that the station runs smoothly and is secure. Not necessarily to arrest people that break regulations by the book. The regulations exist for a reason. They don't exist to keep anyone from doing anything slightly questionable ever.

For example, there's no bartender and someone hops the bar for a drink. Is it a technical trespass? Yes. But at that point should the regulation be enforced? Not really.

But the regulations, your bosses, the staff, and other players aren't going to teach you to contextually enforce regulations because people have a hard time deciding what's worth enforcing and at what point. It's better to enforce everything than to enforce nothing.

Now if there IS a bartender, and someone hips the counter. That's a different story.

I believe skull is saying it's better to leave them be because it isn't really a security breach given the context and their motives, and therefore not worth enforcing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Skull132]

What his butt said.

If you want to arrest someone for having a pink screwdriver out of a hacked vending machine, just because it's non-standard. Then you're doing something wrong.

In my mind, in my personal world whenever I run as hoss or Captain and deal with these issues, contraband is either an item that can be used for clearly malicious intent (stun gloves, weapons, etcetera), or something that they really are not suppose to have (like an assistant walking around with AI boards or some shit). If it's anything other than that, then why exactly are you making a fuss of it?

Sec needs to learn reasonable enforcement, and remove the rod just about all of them have embedded up their arse about regulation.

"Dude hopped a counter and is serving drinks in the bar!"

"Tase him down! Gogogo!"

"....How about we just politely ask him to leave, and give him a warning. How about that?"

You are there to maintain order. Not to be a petty.

[Tainavaa]

Even then it'd be perfectly reasonable, given the lack of a head of staff to allow it, to just let them serve drinks regardless.

There's no security breach. There's no internal conflict being made from it. Just, let them. God damn.

Same goes for contraband. Is it nonstandard? Sure. But does it pose a risk to the station or the crew anymore than what they already have access to, such as anything in a toolbox? That's when you have to rethink whether it's something that's worth enforcing or not. If it's not then just, let them be. Its not hurting anyone nor will it likely hurt anyone.

[Skull132]

Apparently asking Security to be reasonable is like asking a wall to stop standing where it is.

Gentlemen, when can we ram this singular idea through your skulls: "Temper the corporate regulations with reason."

And I am going to get into specifics here, so you'll pardon the call-out. But if an atmostech is walking around with a fire-axe on his back, you have to acknowledge the following facts:

• They have access to it
• The weapon is not raised nor presented in a threatening manner
  
• You do not know why they might or might not need it

 

If you immediately jump and gank that poor motherfucker because "OH MY GOD CONTRABAND" then you are failing at your job.

Ask them why they have it.

Watch them for any hostile movements (unsheathing of the weapon).

Assess the answer they give you.

- If legit, put out a notice for all of sec, so he doesn't run into someone else

- If not legit, politely and reasonably ask them to return the weapon

React only if the suspect creates a situation that poses an immediate threat to the well-being of you, themselves, or a third party. Otherwise, keep your weapons stowed, and their hands out of cuffs.

[Susan]

Well, that call-out is not particularly well informed, because the atmos tech was politely asked to return his axe and refused to do so because, and I quote, his reasoning was "there might be an emergency so I should have it with me at all times."

He then proceeded to spend the next ten minutes whining over communications.

I don't know about Estonia but fire axes are secured in alarmed cabinets and I'm entirely sure my boss would take issue with me carrying around a fire axe in the miniscule chance Office Depot bursts into flames.

[Guest]

However, he wasn't an immediate threat. The officers even confirmed it was on his back. I read the logs while investigating, there was very little time from 'You have a weapon, it's not allowed' to immediate stun and cuff. He spent the next time talking over comms because security used force.

Security are not the Atmos tech's boss. The heads of staff are.