It is not about fairness, or saving lives, or legality.
It is about control.
Intimidation.
Making you feel helpless.
T.H.E.Y. do not care about you following normal, common sense laws, they want you to tie yourself into a pretzel dancing for them. If you dance for them, then they know you are a good order follower.
T.H.E.Y. start this process early, in schools.
But, it has nothing to do with common sense at all.