The county I live in has a $500k budget item under revenue labeled “Code Enforcement.” The question arises what if nobody violates any codes? The answer is that there are so many rules and regulations for which you can be fined that it is impossible not to violate them. The way you learn that there’s a $1,500 fine for trimming a tree or burning leaves is when you get the ticket.
The county MUST get this revenue because they owe retirement benefits and medical insurance. They MUST have the money and they plan on getting it from the residents. They can’t pass new taxes so they make new codes.
My small town spends almost exactly what they bring in from code enforcement fines on the code enforcers. One of these days one of them is going to catch a beating or worse. And I won’t shed a single tear over it.
Cops are supposed to be peace officers not tax collectors.