Rhodes saying because of this arc he hasn't been this much off-duty and him just putting blinders on until recently... personally it implies to me that he hasn't been this much personally involved in a situation before.
Oh Ray Mond, the arc-maker you are.
France, US, Gemany and many more democracies only follow the Inform Authority rule in order to plan out logistics etc. Authorities do not have any say in it.
But We are "Largest Democracy" Hamare kanoon thoda special type ka hai. Authority will decide if you can protest or not.