Laws about "small" property crimes need to be enforced, not ignored.


BLUF - When government chooses to give citizens a pass on breaking laws things only get worse.

In DC the City Council decided to decriminalize "fare jumping", where individuals ride public transportation without paying for the ride. The police in DC can't give out tickets for this (now) "minor" offence as there is no court  established to hear the offence and levy the fine. (The DC Council didn't bother to establish one.)  On the subway they just jump the turn-style; and now on buses they just board and sit without paying. Turns out fare jumpers are costing $40 MILLION a year.

In an already strapped for cash system this is just another burden DC places on MD and VA who also pay for the Metro.

Also, some jurisdictions in CA have decided that "petty theft" is only an infraction, for which you get s ticket, not arrested. OBTW, petty theft is less than $750.
So just go to the Burlington Coat Factory, pick out a nice winter coat and walk out. If you get caught you don't get arrested. Or ask to see the nice $600 diamond tennis bracelet and walk away with it. You don't get arrested.

Unless you've been brainwashed with Socialist nonsense by the San Francisco leaders you see how wrong this is. And an enterprising criminal can do it 4 or 5 times a day and watch the money really add up.

We need to enforce the laws on the books with teeth to halt the law breakers and deter these types of crimes. Concern about not giving youthful offenders a criminal record is misplaced. They grow up not seeing any reason to obey the law or follow what used to be social norms of behavior. That is how you ruin lives, businesses, cities, then societies; and create a class of thugs with no respect for the law.
JUST SAY NO