I'm sure someone has written about this idea before, but perhaps I can add my own spin to a Verification/Registration code for each ship. Of course, a verification code would be a unique alpha-numerical code that is given to each ship upon its production. This code would be used to identify that ship whenever it docks, is found guilty of a crime, scanned, etc.
But perhaps more can be added. For instance, docking could be complicated or simplified by having these codes 'transmitted' to the station for verification when you request docking. Then, after being scanned for crimes (assuming the station has a fully updated crime network), you are welcomed or rejected. But, you could send false codes that you might have bought at another station and may be welcomed with open arms as a familiar ally.
For example, let's say we have a commander, and lets call him Bob. Bob has spent a lot of time stealing items and smuggling them into different stations, but recently he's had a large bounty placed upon his head. He has to then 'thread the needle' and boost his way into the station to avoid being scanned and subsequently destroyed. However, if the verification codes he had were from, say, a well-known trader to the area who has frequently proven himself to this station, then they wouldn't bother to scan him and he gets in no problem.
These codes would work in tandem with being able to name your ship and resell it to other players or whatever. Even have a bounty placed on the ship itself, and once it's sold to some unsuspecting player, the bounty moves. On the flip side, perhaps this was once the ship of some big hero in the alliance, but has since been sold to someone from the federation. Now, when they visit the Alliance, they are hailed as a hero until it is discovered that they only have his/her ship.
This idea would complicate matters, yes, but it would bring about a much more realistic type of galaxy, with identification on everything to attempt to prevent crime (when it sometimes makes it easier for those with enough credits).
To further complicate/ease matters, it could be easier to buy these codes in an anarchy system, or a Federation system, and harder to obtain them in the Alliance or Empire. Something along those lines.
But perhaps more can be added. For instance, docking could be complicated or simplified by having these codes 'transmitted' to the station for verification when you request docking. Then, after being scanned for crimes (assuming the station has a fully updated crime network), you are welcomed or rejected. But, you could send false codes that you might have bought at another station and may be welcomed with open arms as a familiar ally.
For example, let's say we have a commander, and lets call him Bob. Bob has spent a lot of time stealing items and smuggling them into different stations, but recently he's had a large bounty placed upon his head. He has to then 'thread the needle' and boost his way into the station to avoid being scanned and subsequently destroyed. However, if the verification codes he had were from, say, a well-known trader to the area who has frequently proven himself to this station, then they wouldn't bother to scan him and he gets in no problem.
These codes would work in tandem with being able to name your ship and resell it to other players or whatever. Even have a bounty placed on the ship itself, and once it's sold to some unsuspecting player, the bounty moves. On the flip side, perhaps this was once the ship of some big hero in the alliance, but has since been sold to someone from the federation. Now, when they visit the Alliance, they are hailed as a hero until it is discovered that they only have his/her ship.
This idea would complicate matters, yes, but it would bring about a much more realistic type of galaxy, with identification on everything to attempt to prevent crime (when it sometimes makes it easier for those with enough credits).
To further complicate/ease matters, it could be easier to buy these codes in an anarchy system, or a Federation system, and harder to obtain them in the Alliance or Empire. Something along those lines.