Typically one law gets passed for one reason, by administration A. Administration F has no recollection of why Administration A passed the law, and simply sees

Typically one law gets passed for one reason, by administration A. Administration F has no recollection of why Administration A passed the law, and simply sees it as a convenient "thing on the books" to use when someone is technically violating it. The person challenges it in court, and the court establishes the limitations or lack thereof of that. The people in the court and appeals court were most likely appointed during administrations B, C, D, and E. Administration Z simply reacts to these tools available.