@Toris it reminds me of that old native american proverb, slightly edited for Disco by your truly.
Only when the last miner is felled,
The last transport falls silent,
Will pirates then learn,
That the navy cannot be taxed.
Perhaps the rule could be amended to add a line such as "only applies to Transports who dock in the system the demand was issued." That way a trader can run and still be considered alive by the rules.