OK, I am convinced that the world has finally gone crazy today .... or more accurately, the Dubai Police force.
After recently being fined for allegedly telephoning whilst driving my car (although I can prove that I was asleep at that time, that my car was undriveable then after an accident, and that my mobile phone was not in use at that time either, plus I have never been to the area where I was meant to be driving), I was arrested today and detained for questioning .... for committing the heinous crime of taking photographs of cars - at a car exhibition (Automechanika) in Dubai !!!
I initially thought that this was a wind-up when a man told me to stop taking photographs and accompany him for questioning by his colleagues at the Dubai Police station. He then produced his ID card - he was a plain-clothed CID Police Officer, and explained to me that he was concerned that I would sell my photographs to the Chinese, so that they could make illegal copies of the items displayed at this exhibition. After viewing my photographs on the camera screen, he did accept that the Chinese were not likely to buy and use these photographs to manufacture copies of a Chevrolet ZZ1 pickup truck, a Jaguar XF limousine, a Porsche GT sports car or a Ferrari .... but the exhibition organisers had a policy of no photography for that reason, which he was enforcing and no exceptions could be made.
I then pointed out that I had been invited by the organisers
of this exhibition (Epoc Messe Frankfurt GmbH in Germany) to attend, and my entry pass actually lists me as
the owner of a company called "David Butcher Photography" !! We then went to the organisers office to discuss this further .... apparently they didn't think that the owner of a company called "David Butcher Photography" would want to take photographs at their event. Duh !!!
Apparently, if I had applied to the organisers for a Press Pass, I would have been allowed to take photographs. When I asked how I could get this pass for this or any future events, I was told that the application had to be submitted by one of the exhibitors on my behalf. So I asked if one of the 416 Chinese companies exhibiting at Automechanika had applied for me to take photographs for them, I would have been granted a Press Pass ? YES, of course !!! Then I would be allowed to take any photographs that I wanted for this Chinese company - but aren't you afraid that they will then use my photographs to make illegal replicas of the cars or components on display in this exhibition ? YES, that is why you cannot take any photographs without this pass !!! Double DUH !!! My brain hurts now !!!
The Police Officer then gave me two options .... either I let him format the memory card in my camera to delete all of the images and I left immediately, or I accompanied him to the Police Station for further questioning and I would be charged with refusing to cooperate with the CID security services. Hmmm, let me think .... if you press this button, then Confirm, and Yes, the memory card is formatted, Officer.
Luckily, as soon as I got home, I managed to recover most of the offending photographs with some brilliant free software called Convar PC Inspector File Recovery, so here they are ....
.... and for any inscrupulous Chinese viewing this blog, I want my 20% cut
once you start making your illegal copies of this 1002 hp Tariq Performance tuned Porsche !!
A customised Chevrolet ZZ1 pickup truck .... come on you Chinese, start building your copies now !!!
After my ordeal with the Dubai Police today, I want to see a doctor .... not the Fuel Doctor !!!
Let there be lights !!
Everything you need to prepare a 4x4 for desert trips .... now I just need the 4x4 !!!
How about a Chinese copy of this Jaguar XF ?? Mmmmmm, yes please !!!
Or this Fellali Testalossa ??
Just as I took this photograph, I was arrested !!
After recently being fined for allegedly telephoning whilst driving my car (although I can prove that I was asleep at that time, that my car was undriveable then after an accident, and that my mobile phone was not in use at that time either, plus I have never been to the area where I was meant to be driving), I was arrested today and detained for questioning .... for committing the heinous crime of taking photographs of cars - at a car exhibition (Automechanika) in Dubai !!!
I initially thought that this was a wind-up when a man told me to stop taking photographs and accompany him for questioning by his colleagues at the Dubai Police station. He then produced his ID card - he was a plain-clothed CID Police Officer, and explained to me that he was concerned that I would sell my photographs to the Chinese, so that they could make illegal copies of the items displayed at this exhibition. After viewing my photographs on the camera screen, he did accept that the Chinese were not likely to buy and use these photographs to manufacture copies of a Chevrolet ZZ1 pickup truck, a Jaguar XF limousine, a Porsche GT sports car or a Ferrari .... but the exhibition organisers had a policy of no photography for that reason, which he was enforcing and no exceptions could be made.
Apparently, if I had applied to the organisers for a Press Pass, I would have been allowed to take photographs. When I asked how I could get this pass for this or any future events, I was told that the application had to be submitted by one of the exhibitors on my behalf. So I asked if one of the 416 Chinese companies exhibiting at Automechanika had applied for me to take photographs for them, I would have been granted a Press Pass ? YES, of course !!! Then I would be allowed to take any photographs that I wanted for this Chinese company - but aren't you afraid that they will then use my photographs to make illegal replicas of the cars or components on display in this exhibition ? YES, that is why you cannot take any photographs without this pass !!! Double DUH !!! My brain hurts now !!!
The Police Officer then gave me two options .... either I let him format the memory card in my camera to delete all of the images and I left immediately, or I accompanied him to the Police Station for further questioning and I would be charged with refusing to cooperate with the CID security services. Hmmm, let me think .... if you press this button, then Confirm, and Yes, the memory card is formatted, Officer.
Luckily, as soon as I got home, I managed to recover most of the offending photographs with some brilliant free software called Convar PC Inspector File Recovery, so here they are ....
