It went down like this. Train delayed, running late for work…standing at the little red man for a  minute – no cars coming…I cross the road.

Four cops leap out from behind the crowd waiting on the opposite curb.

—Excuse me, buddy, says the burliest cop, why did you cross the road?

—To get to the other side! I say, laughing.

—It’s illegal to cross the road, in Queensland, says the cop, not laughing.

The other three cops grunt in unison.

—It’s illegal to cross the road?

—Against the red man, buddy…why did you cross?

—I am running late, and stopping now to talk with you defeats the purpose of deciding to cross the road as there is no traffic…what happened to common sense?

Cop laughs, out loud, an actual LOL.

—They took that away from us…right guys?

All four cops laugh.

I don’t laugh.

The female cop says; —What if someone ran a red light?

I think for a moment, and say —If they ran a red light that means that everyone who dutifully waited for the green man would have been run down…

She looks confused.

An elderly couple see the cops surrounding me on the footpath and give a wide concerned looking berth…I am, after all, a dangerous criminal that four cops need to hassle into submission.

—Look, buddy, says the burly cop. Give us your ID and we will give you a discretionary caution and not fine you forty dollars on the spot.

—So you need my ID to not fine me? If I don’t give you my ID you will fine me?

—That’s right.

—Well, I choose to not give you my ID…so fine me.

-Ok…we need your ID…to make out the ticket.

I laugh, shake my head and walk away.

All four cops stand there looking at each other.

They do not follow.

Logic wins.