The flipside is to slowly criminalize everyday activity. I've seen that trend in the US (apart from the decriminalization of marijuana, which I'm still surprised by).

As an example, here in Georgia you can theoretically be ticketed for going too slow and too fast at the same time; traffic law says don't impede the flow of traffic, even if said traffic is going 20+ over the limit. So if you're going 5 over and everyone else is going 20 over, you're at risk of getting both tickets.

I realize that traffic infractions are not what most consider crimes, but it scales to misdemeanor and even felony offenses as well. "Show me the man and I'll show you the crime."

http://www.cato.org/policy-report/januaryfebruary-2010/crimi...