How do you get a "legal" license?, I can't find rules for licenses in SR4 Options

[Method]

Well there again, if you're playing a character with a legit background (like a cop) the license really shouldn't be a huge issue. I'd argue that the prices listed in the BBB are for criminal types. If you're a cop you can probably get weapons cheeper, which would off set the cost of licensure. So if I were your GM I'd just have you pay the list price, grant the license based on the character's background and call it a day.

[kzt]

Security companies can get Restricted gear legally, but not Forbidden. Forbidden stuff cannot be licensed, it can only be carried by legal militaries. That doesn't mean there aren't security companies who use forbidden gear, just that they don't ever do it legally.

No, you misunderstood. You make your runner team a security corp. Hence the Purchase Orders.

[Larme]

I'm speaking of Los Angeles, the City of Angels, not of the State of California. While California does have a Castle Doctrine Law, and is fairly Conservative, that particular city has less admiration for those who use lethal force in self defense than others do, and it tends to have fairly zealous prosecutors, too. So the chances of being arrested aren't low. And while you'd never be convicted at trial, it is also possible that you'd never make bail and with the courts being backed up as they are you could easily find yourself in a situation where pleading guilty would get you less time than being aquitted would, seriously. Given the choice between pleading guilty to manslaughter and getting paroled in 18 months or spending two and a half years in jail waiting for a trial, many people would choose the shorter sentence.

I suggest watching a great movie staring Stephen Dorph and Val Kilmer, called Felon, which elaborates on this. It is based on a true story.

Wrongful imprisonment + unconstitutionally high bail = cha ching! You'd get millions if that kind of bullshit happened to you. There's no way they'd be allowed to set bail higher than you could make if you're an average joe with no criminal record. Not unless you're a hobo with no money at all... LA might be hostile to self defense, but CA luvs them tort claimants.

No, you misunderstood. You make your runner team a security corp. Hence the Purchase Orders.

Well, that's all well and good if you're doing security work. Chances are though, you're doing highly illegal stuff. You might be off the hook for unlicensed possession of restricted gear, but you'd still get slammed with charges for trespassing, breaking and entering, murder for hire, etc...

[hyzmarca]

Wrongful imprisonment + unconstitutionally high bail = cha ching! You'd get millions if that kind of bullshit happened to you. There's no way they'd be allowed to set bail higher than you could make if you're an average joe with no criminal record. Not unless you're a hobo with no money at all... LA might be hostile to self defense, but CA luvs them tort claimants.

There is a reason why self-defense is called an affirmative defense, the defense has to prove it at trial. It is within the discretion of a prosecutor to make them do so.

And in a homicide case, seriously, high bail is the norm.
http://www.hollisterfreelance.com/news/251...-bail-set-at-1m
I rest my case.

Six-figure bail isn't uncommon in homicide cases, and even high five-figures can be unplayable if you lack collateral or can't afford the 10% cash.

Currently, there are no rules for legal licenses or permits. If I were GM, I'd just handwave it and roll it into Lifestyle.

[kzt]

Well, that's all well and good if you're doing security work. Chances are though, you're doing highly illegal stuff. You might be off the hook for unlicensed possession of restricted gear, but you'd still get slammed with charges for trespassing, breaking and entering, murder for hire, etc...

It's hard to catch smart people doing bad stuff while they are doing it. It's a lot easier to catch them holding a warehouse full of illegal gear when the cops investigate said crime later. How many runners don't have F gear? If you are a "legitimate businessmen" have a licenses, good reasons to have it and good contacts to help make the cops bug off it's a lot easier for a runner to get away with stuff than if you are a heavily pierced sinless purple mohawk in a leather trenchcoat runner who gets caught with explosives, machine guns, and advanced burglary tools. Of course, the inventory of purple mohawk's stuff is likely to be posthumous too....