A notable example is the approach to soft drugs in the Netherlands. Despite being illegal, the public prosecutor has chosen not to enforce the law. To the point that many if not most think they’re legal.
This situation presents a complex issue to me: it involves a small group of individuals (the prosecutor’s office) effectively deciding to disregard the broader democratic process and the will of the voters. When such things happen, I believe they should be rare, pragmatic and temporary.
What’s your view on the matter?
This is a core component of a corrupt system. Everyone needs dirt on everyone else to feel secure that they can screw you if you ever try to run against the grain.
Just look back at any of the police who get criminally charged. One of the charges against the cop will likely be “theft of state funds” or similar language. This means the cop stole overtime, which is so common as to be universal.
Another common example is tax-evasion under a dictatorship. Everyone in the ruling class does it, but run afoul of the regime, and off to jail you go.