You're not passing enough judgement. That bureaucracy "does things" to legitimize itself and justify it's existence to the people. The reason it's doing dumb

You're not passing enough judgement. That bureaucracy "does things" to legitimize itself and justify it's existence to the people. The reason it's doing dumb "we know better, peasant" things is because that's what the people the author shares a jurisdiction with want. Basically it's illegal because his neighbors are shortsighted jerks that don't respect his rights.