Attorney Harvey Silverglate argues that loosely interpreted legislation allows overzealous US prosecutors to charge any particular (disliked) citizen with Three Felonies A Day. If true, this appears to place citizens at the mercy of the law enforcement.
(One fascinating example is a sheriff who busted a drug lab operating under the guise of a gas station, using a 19th century law banning trading flammables during the dark time of the day as an excuse for a search).
How exceptional is this in time and space?
Obviously, not very: e.g., the Russian proverb "закон что дышло, как повернёшь, так и вышло" (law is like a stick - you can turn it any way you like) is pretty telling.
Do people care?
There seems to be no widespread movement to do something about it. Is the public ignorant or indifferent?
What can be done?
Are there any examples of implementations or proposals to deal with this problem?
For example, automatic and retroactive sunset provision on all criminal laws that any law which was not enforced for 5(10?) years is null and void.