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Security Inspector

Rent, permits and the law

Money and reputation are base values, before difficulty and starting perk adjustments.

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About

Routine inspections and inspections triggered by the Display Case

Comes when Trafficking and Possession (Stolen Goods) crimes build up a little and a countdown runs out, or when contraband or spotted stolen goods in the Display Case, or a Station-wide Crackdown, bring him. A Shady Security Inspector may take a cash bribe instead; otherwise what he finds decides between a warning, seizure, a fine or arrest. Clemency can save you once from arrest, but bribes build up toward a Bribery of Security Personnel charge.

Priority by specialization

  • Apprentice

    Priority
    AUseful in the right situation
    Why it matters
    As Apprentice, ordinary legal food and household goods is not a reason to pay a bribe; check for incidental stolen or illegal stock before inspection.

  • Water Merchant

    Priority
    AUseful in the right situation
    Why it matters
    As Water Merchant, ordinary legal bottled water is not a reason to pay a bribe; check for incidental stolen or illegal stock before inspection.

  • Fence

    Priority
    SPrepare for this customer
    Why it matters
    As Fence, stolen stock can be seized and can start routine inspections, so concealment, liquidity and Clemency are business planning issues.

  • Rock Bottom

    Priority
    AUseful in the right situation
    Why it matters
    As Rock Bottom, legal goods picked up at the Dumping Ground are no reason to pay a bribe; check for incidental stolen or illegal stock before the inspection.

  • Hydroponic Farmer

    Priority
    AUseful in the right situation
    Why it matters
    As Hydroponic Farmer, ordinary legal crops, coffee and wine is not a reason to pay a bribe; check for incidental stolen or illegal stock before inspection.

  • Gunsmith

    Priority
    SPrepare for this customer
    Why it matters
    As Gunsmith, guns outside your active permits can become contraband, so check permits and stock before allowing a search.

  • Chemist

    Priority
    SPrepare for this customer
    Why it matters
    As Chemist, high or critical contraband in chemical stock can cause fines or arrest; prepare legal storage and emergency cash before inspection.

  • Rat Wrangler

    Priority
    AUseful in the right situation
    Why it matters
    As Rat Wrangler, ordinary legal meat from your rats is not a reason to pay a bribe; check for incidental stolen or illegal stock before inspection.

  • Aquafarmer

    Priority
    AUseful in the right situation
    Why it matters
    As Aquafarmer, ordinary legal fish and roe is not a reason to pay a bribe; check for incidental stolen or illegal stock before inspection.
SPrepare for this customer
A seller of goods that are hard to get elsewhere, equipment, a reward or an unlock the specialization's route depends on, a deadline or branch to decide in advance, or a danger of major loss such as game over, arrest or confiscation makes advance preparation worthwhile. A high priority does not mean every purchase or report is recommended.
AUseful in the right situation
A main buyer of your goods, a seller of some of your inputs, a side income, optional input, reputation opportunity or conditional risk matters when the matching stock, branch or cash need exists. Check the condition before reserving scarce money or goods.
BOrdinary response is enough
The specialization does not normally depend on this customer's goods or outcome. Serve an appropriate incidental trade when the visitor comes without planning the business around it; a low priority does not remove legal or safety consequences.

Events

Quick summary

  • Hidden or locked goods are harder to find. Only a routine inspection that you pass without hiding anything gives +3 Security reputation.

  • If found: Low-Level Contraband gets a warning, Mid-Level Contraband and stolen goods are confiscated, High-Level Contraband brings a fine (arrest if you cannot pay) and Critical-Level Contraband means arrest. Clemency saves you once.

  • A shady inspector skips the search for a bribe (40–400), but bribes build up as a crime.

Visit 1

Name shown in the shop: Lazy Security Inspector / Security Inspector / Shady Security Inspector

When
No fixed day. Routine inspections start once your Trafficking and Possession (Stolen Goods) crimes build up a little: on the first such morning a countdown is set, it goes down on each later such morning, and the inspector comes when it reaches 0. Contraband in the Display Case, stolen goods spotted there, or a Station-wide Crackdown also bring an inspector, even while VIP pauses routine inspections.
What happens
Accept the search, or pay cash if a Shady Security Inspector offers to skip it for a bribe. Any penalty is automatic and depends on what he actually finds.

Choices

Allow the inspection.

  • He searches the shop, both counters, the Display Case, your hidden storage compartment if its poster is open, and the Trash Can unless he is lazy. Hidden and locked goods can escape notice.
  • Passing a routine inspection cleanly gives +3 Security reputation (before adjustments), but only if you hid nothing and luck did not save you.
  • Low-Level Contraband: you get a warning and lose Security reputation based on what was found.
  • Mid-Level Contraband: it is confiscated and you lose Security reputation based on what was found.
  • Stolen goods found: they are confiscated and you lose Security reputation based on what was found.
  • High-Level Contraband: you are fined and lose Security reputation based on what was found.
  • Everything found is confiscated except Low-Level Contraband; this also happens when Clemency saves you or you are arrested.
  • If you can afford the fine for High-Level Contraband, it is paid automatically. The fine is the total base value of the goods found (each rounded down).
  • If you cannot afford the fine, Clemency is used up and you pay nothing.
  • If you cannot afford the fine and have no Clemency, you are arrested and the run ends, unless you have enough cash by the final check.
  • Critical-Level Contraband with Clemency: instead of an arrest, you lose Security reputation based on what was found.
  • Critical-Level Contraband uses up Clemency, and you avoid arrest this time.
  • Critical-Level Contraband without Clemency: you are arrested and the run ends.
  • If goods are confiscated and you are not arrested, he leaves an Incident Slip.

Pay the Shady Security Inspector to skip the search.

Needs

  • He is a Shady Security Inspector and you can afford the bribe; a standard or Lazy Security Inspector never offers it.
  • Pay the bribe (at least 40; higher as days pass, lower with high Security reputation); no search.
  • Bribes add to a running total that drops a little each day when you open the shop; once it is big enough, you are charged with Bribery of Security Personnel worth 250, which comes off the total.

Recommended response

Allow a clean inspection instead of paying for nothing; a fully clean routine pass grants 3 base Security reputation only when hiding and luck did not save you. Low-Level Contraband brings a warning and reputation loss, while higher levels or stolen goods can be confiscated, High-Level Contraband brings a fine, and Critical-Level Contraband or an unaffordable high-level fine can cause arrest unless Clemency applies; found goods above the lowest level are still lost. Only a shady inspector offers a cash bribe, costlier as days pass and cheaper with higher Security reputation (never below 40), so compare it with the actual exposure. Paid bribes add up, the running total shrinking a little each day, and once enough has built up a 250-point bribery crime is recorded; once recorded Bribery of Security Personnel crimes total 500 or more, your Security Record shows Reliable Inspector Only and routine selection uses a standard inspector instead of a shady or lazy one.

Notes

  • A routine inspector is a standard, Shady or Lazy Security Inspector with equal chances, but always a standard one if your Bribery of Security Personnel crimes total 500 or more or No Stone Unturned is active. These chances only decide which kind comes, not whether one comes.
  • Only one inspector comes per day, even if several reasons apply. If he spots contraband or stolen goods on the counter as he arrives, his visit becomes a standard inspection.