Dubai Police as they used to be...
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How Dubai Police used modern technology the 1970s
Dubai Police has always been a Leader in the use of technology to support them in enforcing Law and Order. Here is a story about how they put technology to use in the 1970s.... It took about an hour to buy the shoes - time enough for the Police to put a Clamp on my car. A Clamp? Nobody gets clamped in Dubai! Now they do. It's called progress. What to do? The Store Owner rings the Police. Says I must go to Naif Police Station. A taxi ride later I arrive at the Duty Sergeant's desk. He doesn't understand my explanation. The Constable explains. Ahhh! Yes. Issues an order to get the keys. A large brown paper bag arrives. It is upended on the Sergeant's desk. Several hundred keys fall out. Sergeant and Corporal begin searching for THE KEY. I ask "How much will the fine be?". "150 Dirhams". They find THE KEY. The Constable is instructed to take me to my car. 
Constable and I climb into his Landrover - the old style LR - no side windows. We shake hands. He switches on the blue flashing light and the siren. The Landrover takes off with the Constable's right boot pressed firmly to the floor. Our progress through the narrow streets is rapid. A taxi blocks our way. The taxi driver sees the Police Landrover in his rear view mirror, hears the siren and slows. The Constable flashes his headlights. The taxi slows some more.The Constable flashes some more. The Taxi pulls over onto the sidewalk. So does the Constable - in front of the taxi. Constable jumps down from the Landrover berates the taxi driver. Gives him a ticket - obstructing the Police in the course of their Duty (presumably). 
Off again with siren blaring and blue light flashing. Arrive at my clamped car. My wife arrives in her car. Constable produces THE KEY. Undoes the padlock on the clamp. Removes the clamp cover. Problem! The Clamp has been made in the Police Workshops. It's held in place by a mass of nuts and bolts. Problem! Constable does not have a spanner. Solution! Wife remembers toolkit in back of her car. Finds two spanners that fit. Constable and I start undoing nuts and bolts. We work as a Team -a very effective Team. Clamp removed in a matter of minutes - well not more than twenty minutes. Smiles and handshakes all round. We have shared a unique experience. We are friends! But my wife has learned the ways of Dubai. "You used our tools - what about a discount?" Laughter and smiles all round again. More handshakes. We part company.
A week later. Summons arrives in the Mail....fined
120 Dirhams! -- In Dubai if you don't ask - you don't get!!!
 
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