[inigyou]

If you set off a firework in front of a cop to protest fireworks being illegal, that would be illegal and you'd go to jail

[quailfarmer]

But if you arrest him, I’m going to set off fireworks in protest. The market of stubbornness can remain solvent for a long time.

[IAmBroom]

Classic Internet Tough Guy boast. Imagine thinking that, when the police come to fine you, your neighbors will break the law in front of the police "to show them!". Your neighbors may be just smart enough to not invite the police to fine them, too.

The "market of stubbornness" is about one deep at any given moment.

[inigyou]

Cops have arrest quotas to meet - they don't mind arresting you too.

[lwansbrough]

They actually do mind, which is why they don’t do it. Did you forget the reality of the situation?

They mind because they are completely outnumbered. Policing only works if you can point out a small minority and say “these people are causing harm to the majority of us”. With something like fireworks (or cannabis protests in many places) the police are severely outnumbered and they don’t have enough room in their jails anyway.

[JCharante]

you don't have to arrest everyone, just make the likelyhood of being arrested non-zero to deter people

[inigyou]

Are you really planning to stage a riot over fireworks being banned? And you have enough co-conspirators to outpower the police?