More and more, the law is only being applied to the basically law-abiding. Those who choose to live outside the law go their merry way, while woe betide the poor slob who tries t0 follow the law to the letter, but slips up on some minor detail.
The law abiding person will cooperate with officers and readily pay whatever fine is levied. The lawless, by contrast, will make no end of a fuss, and then fail to pay any fines. Often they require incarceration, at tremendous expense. Where is the profit in that?
The PD can report that they solve X per cent of their arresting crimes. DC is a piss hole what with Marion Barry. Every cop would have known about his cocaine habits. He needed protection. The tag issue is all about per cents of solved crimes.
Agreed. Thieves, drug dealers and welfare fraud - not worth the effort. Selling your garden produce without a license or have old car tags, go to jail. Tax evading illegal aliens, legal protection, though they are driving without insurance or valid licenses and often drunk.