Hostages must be genuine and not be a willing participant in the scenario. You cannot take a gang member or anyone who is "willing" as a hostage.
Cops may only be taken hostage when there is a "high" police presence on the server.
A hostage is someone you are using as leverage or bargaining power to gain upper hand and/or freedom.
Hostages must remain at the scene and may not be transported to a secondary location.
No secondary hostages can be held at another location. Hostages must be visible to the police or shown when requested.
You are not allowed to kill a complying hostage. If the police attempt to rescue the hostages, the hostages can be killed or injured.
Following players can NOT be used as a hostage: [*]
Associates, friends, and paid hostages.
On-duty EMS.
Other on-duty whitelisted employees who are not actively with a customer.
On-duty police, unless there is a "high" police presence on the server.
First responding officer.
Unarmed negotiator when they enter the building at your request.
Any NPC (local) cannot and will not be considered a hostage.
Demands and Negotiations:
Negotiations must take place face-to-face, not through Twitter, phone, or radio.
Examples of reasonable demands:
Free passage to your getaway vehicle.
No use of spike strips.
No GPS tracking.
Calling off air support.
Examples of unreasonable demands (not limited to):
"Leave or we shoot." You cannot demand police to leave the area.
Ordering all police to stand outside their vehicles.
Any amount of money
If you have no hostage, police have the right to open fire at any time. However, interaction and demands can be discussed first, as a shootout is a last resort.
Officers will not breach a situation if they have agreed to let you out.
Officers cannot expect players to 'drop weapons' as part of negotiation. They may request it, but should not deny reasonable demands with other reasonable compromises. Dropping weapons is not a valuable trade for free passage, but exiting a store with sheathed (holstered) weapons should be accepted for free passage.
Police should always allow for demands to be heard.
Both sides must allow each other to speak during negotiations. If the police are preparing to enter, it must be stated clearly. If criminals are preparing to leave, they should announce it clearly.
Officers may breach at any time if no contact is made by suspects inside.
If an officer enters the building to speak to you, they will have all arms holstered and you may not take them hostage or open fire at them. They will be free to leave the building as required.
All sides must honor any demands they have agreed to.