[PRESS RELEASE #62] Background Check Policy Update

[Oj Wood]

01 September, 2023
San Andreas State Government

Introduction

• The previous Background Check Policy was intended to prevent the use of legal fronts to funnel funds into illegal activities or organizations. Similarly, this policy does the same with a few small changes to the disqualifying charges to have them coordinated with those of the Property & Housing Bureau. It also introduces a new system which main purpose is to penalize business owners who are charged with disqualifying charges while they have their licenses active without seizing their business.

Changes to the Disqualifying Charges

• As the Business Licensing Bureau starts to work closer with the Property & Housing Bureau, a decision was made to have the two Bureau have the same disqualifying charges, and as such, effective after the publication of this new policy, the below are the new disqualifying charges for the Business Licensing Bureau. Note, while these are the charges listed below each application is handled on a case-by-case basis.
  
  Those who have completed a Felony Reform Program will be permitted to apply for Citizen’s Licenses after confirmation from DOC, except for those charged with charges in the Permanent Disqualification Disqualifying category.
  
  Permanent Disqualification

  SF01 - Domestic Terrorism
  6-Month Disqualifying Charges

  Serious Felonies

  SF02 - Murder
  SF03 - Involuntary or Vehicular Manslaughter
  SF04 - Kidnapping
  SF05 - Torture
  SF06 - Possessing Destructive Devices or Explosives
  SF07 - Bank Robbery
  SF08 - Human Trafficking
  SF09 - False Imprisonment of a Hostage
  3-Month Disqualifying Charges

  General Felonies

  GF01 - Child Endangerment
  GF02 - Robbery
  GF03 - Armed Robbery
  GF04 - Sexual Assault
  GF05 - Extortion
  GF06 - Blackmail
  GF07 - Felony Fraud
  GF08 - Illegal Gambling
  GF09 - Embezzlement
  GF10 - Grand Theft
  GF11 - Grand Theft Auto
  GF12 - Forgery or Counterfeiting
  GF13 - Arson
  GF14 - False Impersonation
  GF15 - Burglary
  GF16 - Tampering with Evidence
  GF17 - Rape
  GF18 - Racketeering
  GF19 - Abuse or Desecration of Dead Human Body
  GF20 - Possession of Human Body Tissue
  GF21 - Prison Break
  GF22 - Parole Violation
  GF23 - Grand Sales Tax Evasion
  GF24 - Perjury
  GF25 - Felony Contempt of Court

  Aviation Felonies

  AF01 - Reckless Operation of an Aircraft
  AF02 - Committing a Crime Aboard an Aircraft in Flight
  AF03 - Operating an Aircraft without an Active License
  AF04 - Failure to Obey Intercepting Military or Law Enforcement Aircraft/ATC Orders
  AF05 - Violating a Prohibited Airspace Order
  AF06 - Transporting Dangerous Cargo
  AF07 - Drunk, Impaired, or Distracted Flying
  AF08 - Aircraft Piracy
  AF09 - Destruction of an Aircraft or Aircraft Facilities

  Drug Felonies

  DF01 - Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent of Sales
  DF02 - Sale of a Controlled Substance
  DF03 - Sale of Drug Paraphernalia
  DF04 - Trafficking a Controlled Substance
  DF05 - Manufacturing a Controlled Substance

  Weapon Felonies

  WF01 - Assault with a Deadly Weapon
  WF02 - Shooting from a Vehicle (Drive-By)
  WF03 - Possession of a Class 2 Firearm
  WF04 - Possession of a Class 3 Firearm
  WF05 - Possession of a Class 4 Firearm
  WF06 - Unlicensed transfer of firearms, ammunition and body armor
  WF07 - Firearms Trafficking

  Vehicular Felonies

  VF01 - Evading an Officer
  VF02 - Felony Hit and Run
  VF03 - Operating a Chop Shop
  VF04 - Felony Public Endangerment
  1-Month Disqualifying Charges

  General Misdemeanors

  GM01 - Assault
  GM02 - Battery
  GM03 - Possession of a Blade
  GM04 - Resisting Arrest
  GM05 - Receiving Stolen Property
  GM06 - Petty Theft
  GM07 - Criminal Fraud
  GM08 - Vandalism
  GM09 - Vigilantism
  GM10 - Failure to Comply / Identify
  GM11 - Predatory Lending
  GM12 - Giving False Information to a Police Officer
  GM13 - Criminal Threats
  GM14 - Obstruction of Justice
  GM15 - Animal Cruelty
  GM16 - Failure to Pay a Fine
  GM17 - Bribery
  GM18 - Failure to Report the finding of a Dead Human Body
  GM19 - Face Concealment (b)
  GM20 - Minor Sales Tax Evasion
  GM21 - False Imprisonment
  GM22 - Contempt of Court

  Nuisance Misdemeanors

  NM01 - Inciting a Riot
  NM02 - Participating in a Riot
  NM03 - Unlawful Assembly
  NM04 - Stalking
  NM05 - Public Intoxication
  NM06 - Trespassing
  NM07 - Prostitution, Pimping or Pandering
  NM08 - Abuse of Government Public Safety Radio Frequencies or Hotlines

  Vehicular Misdemeanors

  VM01 - Operating a Vehicle without a Valid License
  VM02 - Operating a Vehicle with a Suspended License
  VM03 - Reckless Operation of a Road or Marine Vehicle
  VM05 - Drunk, Impaired, or Distracted Driving
  VM06 - Street Competition
  VM07 - Hit and Run

  Drug Misdemeanors

  DM01 - Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance
  DM02 - Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
  DM03 - Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance
  DM04 - Possession of a Controlled Substance while Armed
  DM05 - Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
  DM06 - Cultivation of a Controlled Substance

  Weapon Misdemeanors

  WM01 - Unlawful Brandishing of a Firearm or Weapon
  WM02 - Possession of a Class 1 Firearm
  WM03 - Possession of Weapon Modifications
  WM04 - Possession of Illegal Body Armor
  WM05 - Possession of Body Armor as a Felon

  Aviation Misdemeanors

  AM01 - Negligent Operation of an Aircraft
  AM02 - Operating an Unregistered Aircraft
  AM03 - Operating an Aircraft without a License on your Person
  AM04 - Disrupting Airport/Aircraft Operations
  AM05 - Operating an Aircraft without Proper Equipment
  AM06 - Failure to Make Way for Emergency, State Government, or Military Aircraft
  AM07 - Operating an Aircraft in Controlled Airspace without Clearance
  AM08 - Violating a Restricted Airspace Order or Temporary Flight Restriction

New Penalty System

• On the first of every month when a business owner pays their monthly licensing fees, they undergo a background check to ensure that they are still clear from any of the outlined disqualifying charges. In a situation where a business owner is found to have been charged with one of these charges; their business operations will be suspended by the Business Licensing Bureau for a period of time.
  
  In one (1) calendar year, every business owner will be given five (5) strikes. Every repeated offence of a failed background check will be met with an additional strike being added to the business owner’s record. If a business owner receives more than five (5) strikes in a single year, the business will be seized by the Business Licensing Bureau. With every strike, there is a time period during which the business operations will be suspended and at the end of the year, all strikes will be set back to 0. The specific length of time can be found below:
  
  • First Offense - 14 Days
  • Second Offense - 21 Days
  • Third Offense - 30 Days
  • Fourth Offense - 3 Months
  • Fifth Offense - 6 Month
  For crucial businesses ((Scripted Businesses)) access to doors/pumps will be restricted to the public for the time period based on the offence. When the time has passed, the blockades will be removed.
  
  Smaller businesses, such as nightclubs, will simply have their licenses suspended for the time period and will not be allowed to operate/host events. If they are found operating in any capacity further legal action will be taken through the penal code charges BLB07 - BLB09. The same process will be undertaken for individuals who possess citizen licenses.

((OOC Note))

• ((With the old policy that was in place, if a business owner was charged with one of the disqualifying charges, they would have their business seized and removed from their ownership. While this is logical on a In Character level, we do not believe that it would be fair to remove something from players that they put a lot of time and effort into to obtain. Instead of a full seizure, it would be something temporary giving business owners some leniency. For scripted businesses, their access will be restricted. This will not be the case for non-scripted businesses such as nightclubs to still allow RP opportunities at their properties.
  ))

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• 
  Marc Ericcson,
  Director | Business Licensing Bureau
  San Andreas State Government
  ✉ [email protected]
  
  
  
  
  OJ Wood, Esq.
  Director | Public Relations Bureau
  San Andreas State Government