Why American Criminal law is stupid,unreasonable and oppressive in both misdemeanors and felonies?

The one that really gets me is jaywalking (not that they enforce it where I live). In England, you can cross the road wherever you want and not get fined $191 like in LA. Your not even required to obey Stop/Go signs. And if a dirty big steam roller comes along and squishes you as flat as a bug, it's your own damn fault.