Freelance
TravellerLaw Level and Driving Permits
This article originally appeared in Vuelo Raso N. 8 and was translated by Google Translate and Jeff Zeitlin. The translation appeared in Freelance Traveller March/April 2024. Lea este artículo en español.
If we want to use vehicles as a key piece in any of our adventures, there is a factor that we can count on, both in Traveller and in M-Space. This is the Law Level of the system.
It is not surprising that travelers often have technologically advanced vehicles or equipped with weapons that far surpass the technology of the locals, since even the most basic scout ship has among its standard equipment a gravitational repulsor (TL12).
However, as referees, we occasionally tend to ignore the Law Level of the system beyond weapons and the most egregious crimes. In most countries that we know from the real world (if not all) a driving license is required to drive any vehicle and the driving license from one country is not always valid in another. This doesn’t have to be any different in our science fiction settings.
The objective of this article is not to constantly introduce another obstacle to the characters, nor to make them pass driving tests, or anything similar, but to simply give a little more color to our games, make them feel that they are in a different system every time they travel and they may occasionally have to turn to non-player characters to act as their chauffeur. In this way enriching the adventures with a few interactions with NPCs, opening more windows to interpretation, the search for information, and (why not?) slightly hindering the use of heavily armed vehicles.
Regarding armed vehicles, we will use the basic legal system of weaponry, as indicated in the Traveller’s Compendium and we will determine that these vehicles belong to at least category 3 (paramilitary). It may have a higher category depending on the specific vehicle. So basically, what is important in these cases will be the weapons that the vehicle carries and its armor more than anything else.
So, and without further ado, we are going to suggest a basic guide based on the Law Levels, from the most restrictive/oppressive to the least.
Law Level A (10)+
It is well known that systems with this Law Level and above are really oppressive for their inhabitants, this may be due to a large number of factors, not only being terribly obsessive with the law, but also being able to change it at the whim of whoever holds the government in the system. In these systems, travelers should completely forget about being able to drive their vehicles if they know what is best for them. Not so much because of the difficulty in obtaining a permit (that too), but because even the slightest infraction can lead to large fines or even the death penalty.
Certainly, even the free movement of people is prohibited, so they would have to apply for visas to be able to move from one place to another and complete registrations to request a driver to fulfill this function.
Law Level 9
As in systems with Law Level A+, the laws are terribly oppressive, however, it is slightly easier for travelers to obtain a driving license. The most common restriction will be the difficulty in obtaining permission. They may have to resort to the Administration or Legal skill, in addition to spending money. Some examples of the limitations they may face may be that driving is only authorized for certain types of vehicles (passenger cars of a specific model and color depending on different factors such as the owner’s profession, age, nationality, or purchasing power, etc.), that they can only drive at specific times or an excessive highway code with hundreds of headings, exceptions and clauses.
The slightest infraction can lead to the loss of the license, the seizure of the vehicle, jail, exorbitant sums of money and perhaps even death. In these cases, the easiest solution is to use a transport service such as taxis or public transport.
It is mandatory to carry a light and sound badge on the vehicle indicating that the local regulations are not well known. As well as a GPS locator in the vehicle if local technology allows it.
Law Level 8
Slightly less restrictive than Law Level 9 but equally burdensome, travelers can easily obtain through Legal skill a driving permit for certain vehicles as long as these are in correlation with local vehicles. If the local system uses archaic wheeled vehicles powered by a certain type of fossil fuel, they will have to use a vehicle that meets the standards and has the required local inspections up to date. In these cases, the simplest thing is usually to rent a local vehicle at the port itself and this way you would only have to worry about the driving license. Hiring a passenger transportation service continues to be one of the best options, since this way you will avoid dealing with bureaucracy and will mean savings compared to vehicle rental.
Penalties for violation remain strict, although only in particularly disastrous cases can they carry the death penalty.
It is mandatory to carry a light (and perhaps audible) badge on the vehicle indicating that the local regulations are not well known.
Law Level 7
A significant jump in terms of restrictions compared to Law Level 8. Travelers can complete their permits using the Legal skill so that permits from other systems are valid in this one. May require testing of related driving skills in a simulator. The entire process in total can take 1D6×30 minutes and a small cost in fees that should not exceed 100 Cr. However, this “temporary permit for foreigners” usually only allows the driving of passenger cars and vehicles considered “not very dangerous”. A permit to drive such as, for example, a tanker truck or an airplane cannot be acquired in this way. For these last cases, treat the system as if it were Law Level 8.
Regarding the limitation on the models to be managed, we can consider that any civil model can be driven as long as its Tech Level does not deviate by more than one point from the local Tech Level.
It would be absurd to drive wheeled vehicles in a system that uses gravitational vehicles as standard and vice versa, since the infrastructure will surely not be prepared for both models.
The penalties for violations are usually financial and involve the withdrawal of permits, however, certain types of attitudes considered negligent, dangerous or that put other drivers at risk may involve prison sentences. And only in the most extreme cases could this involve the death penalty.
It is mandatory to carry a light badge on the vehicle indicating that local regulations are not well known.
Law Level 6
Another important jump in terms of restrictions compared to Law Level 7. Travelers can complete their permits using the Legal skill or a related driving skill test in a simulator, without both being necessary.
As in Law Level 7, the total process can take 1D6×10 minutes and a small cost in fees that should not exceed 50 Cr. This “temporary permit for foreigners” allows driving all types of vehicles related to the skill used in the simulator while it is a type of habitual movement vehicle (marine in aquatic systems, wheeled or gravitational in standard systems…). The limitations by Tech Level with respect to local technology are usually more lax when it comes to higher technology, although they will maintain a limit for lower technology vehicles.
Penalties for violation are similar to Law Level 7.
It is mandatory to carry a badge on the vehicle indicating that local regulations are not well known.
Law Level 5
We are getting closer to the point of “Do what you want, but don’t go
overboard” although we are not there yet. At this legal level, as long
as you demonstrate in some way that the vehicle is yours and that you
know how to drive it, you should not have any special problems as long
as it is not an obstacle for the rest of the inhabitants. Any driving
permit delivered will be used for these procedures and managing it
will cost 1D6×10 Cr. And all this will be valid for several months.
It may be necessary to carry some type of badge in the vehicle warning
other drivers that you are not local.
Law Level 4
A local driving permit is not necessary as long as you have any driving permit (regardless of where you are from). Keeping up to date with local traffic regulations is your responsibility. If you commit an offense or are detained and it is discovered that you do not even have a permit, an additional penalty will be applied.
Placing a badge on the vehicle is your personal choice, and it is advisable to do so.
Law Level 3
Exactly the same as in Law Level 4 with the exception that the system only requests driving permits for the vehicles considered most dangerous (airplanes, heavy transport, ocean liners…).
Law Level 2
Only vehicles considered war vehicles require strict driving permits, but they can be obtained with money and Legal skill without too many problems as if it were Law Level 3. The highway code becomes a kind of “local customs to avoid accidents” rather than a legal guide. However, it is considered good taste not to “commit violations” of local customs.
Law Level 1
As Law Level 2. However, permits for war vehicles can be obtained more easily as long as their weaponry does not include explosive projectiles such as howitzers, torpedoes, or heavy armor.
Law Level 0
The best place to take that old heavy grav tank from the border wars that you have stored in the garage for a walk.