I usually run with transponder off because it apparently works like sugar for wasps, or honey for bears. Lots of small fleets just "attack" me instead of running away and that's free supplies and fuel.
Anyway, at some point I have to unload the loot, and Jangala is my HQ since I'm cooperative with Hegemony. And of course, I always forget to turn the transponder back on, which doesn't go unnoticed for long and someone reminds me that "I won't get off so easily next time". Which also nets me -3 rep, fine.
The problem this time is that I ran into somebody I had already met, so he did the logical thing to do, he actually attacked me, which then got me the hostile status.
Now, considering that I "know some of Hegemony's leaders personally", why would someone like him not immediately ask for pardon for not recognizing me, or something like that? Why do I even get fined for not having the transponder on? "Oh it's you? Ok sorry you can go." I can understand smuggling, but this rule is very annoying. It even got as far as me having the transponder off, turning it back on to quickly help an ongoing battle, and then the fleet I had just helped went back to tell me to turn it on.
When you have access to secure channels of a faction I think they should cut you some slack.