Posted by MikeT23 on 9/21/2010 8:17:00 AM (view original):
In my experience, most cops are egomaniacs on power trips. While there are some who legitimately want to uphold the law, even those guys will give the buxom blonde a warning while writing you a ticket for the same infraction.
Nonetheless, I'm sure cops aren't told to "Interpret the law and enforce as you see fit." Which is what your Panel of Five is doing.
its called discretion and all police officers are allowed to use it. its the reason they dont pull over ever damn car on the street...and why they may take the weed, destroy it, and let you off with a warning.
obviously the major things (rape, murder, etc) are going to get the attention 100% of the time but with the misdemeanors its often up to the officer whether or not to enforce it "by the book". limited resources, limited facilities, limited manpower, limited money to enforce every single law by the book.