Right of Passage

Right of Passage is a constitutionally-guaranteed right of all Earth Republic citizens, which must be upheld by ERSN ships and by police vessels especially. Citizens may claim Right of Passage if they do not possess the means to purchase passage back to Earth. Citizens may also claim Right of Passage, free of charge, if they have been charged with a crime and would like to undergo trial on Earth rather than on a colony. Citizens may claim Right of Passage back to Earth only, and not back to any particular colony.

ERSN ships must assist and help arrange for a timely return if a citizen invokes Right of Passage. A ship is not required to take the citizens home immediately if there is an existential space-based threat, if the ship faces overcrowding, if there is an emergency refugee situation, or if the ship is outbound to dangerous areas. The ship should, if transport is available, arrange for another Earth Republic vessel to fulfill the return; a civilian transport ship may be ordered to return to Earth, regardless of its original destination, for this purpose. That ship may then file for reimbursement with the Earth Republic government. If the citizen so transported is found to possess assets, they will be billed for their transport and possibly fined, if they lied about their holdings.

In a large-scale emergency refugee situation, Right of Passage is not suspended. However, a ship may reject individual Right of Passage claims when that number exceeds twenty-four, and may elect instead to report the situation to Star Navy Command. ERSN Logistics will then work with the government to arrange for an evacuation.

Sirius Protectorate Right of Passage
Citizens of Sirius Protectorate possess the right to undergo trial on Sirius rather than on Earth. If charged with a crime anywhere in the Earth Republic or by an ERSN captain, that Sirius Protectorate citizen may claim Right of Passage back to Sirius, unless they are charged with the murder of an Earth Republic citizen, or in the case of a kidnapping/custody dispute.