"Even going to the tape, though, is not always enough. The mother of the guy in the Santa suit maintained that the police should’ve taken her son, who eventually passed out, back to his room, not to jail. Recounting the story, Mr. Williamson looks momentarily exasperated. He tried to explain, he says, that her son was safer sleeping off his drunkenness under supervision." It seems the LEOs cannot win when dealing wit…
There are a huge number of situations where there are two sets of rules or prices or options, one for most people and one for people who complain once. If you're a sucker, you pay retail. If you make the slightest effort to haggle, you can save money. You can bargain your traffic tickets down to non-moving violations for fewer points off your license and a smaller fine. If you complain at a hotel you might get a free spa pass. If you have overdue library books, you can sometimes sweet talk the librarian into waiving your fine. If you ask for a raise, you might get it.
There are a huge number of situations where -- by making the slightest protest -- you can sometimes save a bit of time or money or get something for nothing, and moreover there is usually no penalty for trying. I don't think this mother was doing anything different: she may not think her child is a special flower, but she has learned through much experience in life that it never hurts to ask for special treatment, because you sometimes get it.