Nice, now that i've read some of this stuff, i know what i'm going to do next time i'm in new york with artifacts. If they can't stop me, then there is no reason for me to not try and dock at manhattan. Pirates have to deal with traders also, and you don't see us complaining about them docking a jh / base or just engage cruise in the middle of a conversation. (at least i don't). And i'd say it's perfect rp to try and escape.
On the other hand, you don't see pirates camping planet kurile for example, because we know better. There is just no way to catch a trader right in front of a possible escape route. Best chances you have is in the middle of a system, where there are no bases or jh/jg within a close range.
However, not slowing down at all is indeed annoying. A trader cruising by and giving me the finger is something i really don't like. That's why i shoot them down the next time i see them (not days apart offcourse, but if he's on his return), i also announce that to them. Some people might think it's not right, but it's certainly suspicious if someone doesn't slow down for a simple scan, they're obviously hiding something.
So if you seriously want to prevent the smuggling in Liberty space, you'll have to come up with some tactics. Same as why you don't see criminals chased down by one police car, and kindly slow down at the next exit if the police asks them to.
