My first time being arrested in Germany.

So to make a long story short I was not put in handcuffs and carted away to the local precinct, however the German Police authorities would have been well within their rights to have done this.  I was on a bicycle and late to my one of my Learn German Courses in the ghetto of Germany.  A ghetto in Germany is more or less where all of the foreigners, exiled people, and asylum seekers live, and lots of Turkish people.  Since I like Döner Kebab, and the fact that I might have to eventually seek asylum here in Germany from the US if I keep posting my anti-American comments, and I too am a foreigner (not really) I don't nor did I have any problems in the neighborhood.  Just mind your business, don't stare people down, and don't buy drugs or illegal weapons and for the most part you will be okay.  At least until 20:00 (that is another thing, German time is military time).  Since I was a Policeman it was not that hard converting to a ''new'' way to tell time.  With this being said I would not probably feel comfortable in the above-mentioned neighborhood if I happened to be a female (especially a good looking one).  Scary.

So I am pedaling away and I see a red stoplight semaphore (yes, that is what they are called in Police language).  Except for this one is in the middle of a block and is only there for pedestrians.  I came to a complete stop (even put my feet on the pavement) and waited until everyone had crossed.  Since I was in a hurry I rode through the red light only to pedal another 30 Meters and directly in front of me, the words:  Halt Poliezei (Stop Police) on a little white stick with a red light on top.  A man on a bike in front of me was also being detained.  My German was only 3 weeks old (probably 3 year olds could speak already better) but I could do colors and build basic sentences and say who I was, what I was doing (Ich gehe zur deutschen Schule...I am going to German school), ect.  I was polite and gave them one of my id's.  I didn't have my passport with me.  They asked if I was in the country legally.  I said ''Yes, of course.  I am married''.  In German of course.  ''Ja, selbstverständlich.  Ich bin verheiratet''.  The Police Officer was a hulk.  A classical German cop out of a movie.  Muscles with a short World War II Wehrmacht haircut.  I told him that I was trying to learn German, and that I was a former Police Officer and knew what I had done was stupid and took full responsibility.  The Cop decided to give me a break and told me that I would be getting only 1 point deducted from my Driver's License instead of the normal four, and that I would pay a 68 Euro fee instead of 150 Euro.  I told him I didn't have one.  He said well the one point will wait for you until you do in Flensburg (where the German Driving Public Safety Office) is.  If you get 20 points it is game over and I think you have to re do everything.  I was very thankful.  Germans are sticklers for the rules and generally see everything in black-and-white.  Back to going to jail.  They ran my name with one of the documents I had.  I think it was my workout card from the gym McFit.  Without a real form of ID (Drivers License does not count) as a foreigner you can be brought to jail until they ascertain who you are.  I am glad stayed calm and didn't become an ass-hat.