When there is a catch-and-release policy as there is in Eugene, the word gets around.  

"Nothin' happens if you get caught!"  They turn you loose next day or so and that's it."   29 arrests later, we sometimes do something.  

And  then many here on these comments pages say we are not being 'compassionate' or some other excuse de jour for not requiring thieves, robbers, con-men and vagrants (but I repeat myself) to abide by the laws the rest of us have to follow.