B is for Brats, Beers and Bureaucracy

Everyone knows that German love their Brats and their Beer ... but the B they love the most is Bureaucracy. They LOVE their rules ... they love makin'em, they love followin'em. I had a glimps at some of Germany's finest bureaucracy trying to get a German residence and work permit (whats that? ... you CAN pat your head and rub your belly while hopping on one foot through a hoop? Well then, you might be qualified for the paperwork you need to fill out in order to get the documents needed before we begin your application). The other day I had the fortunate experience to see Berlin's finest adhering to every letter of the law.
Cousin Chad and friends getting frisked by the German Police
I was biking to work some lazy Tuesday morning. I was riding one of those nice bike lanes they have everywhere in this city. Out of the corner of my eye I see a car tailgating me. A few seconds later I seems as though the passenger was trying to hit me with something !!! Ends up being a couple cops in a paddy wagon waving a stop sign! Eventually I 'pull over'. The police we yelling at me for running a red light on my bike. They were right, I DID run a red, but it was on this dinky little street and not a car in sight. I thought 'These guys have to be joking !' I instantly forgot my German, making communcation difficult, I ended up getting off with a 'warning'.

I talked to the people at work and they said that running a red light in German, regardless by bike or auto is the same offense ... I could loose my driver license for 3 months !!! The same goes for biking without proper lights at night !!! In general, I agree to rules for the betterment of society ... but sometimes you have to ask 'how do they apply here'