By Nadim Kawach

A Dubai-based British journalist who wanted to write about Lebanon’s new traffic law pulled out his camera and took a few shots of a congested street. A few seconds later, he was surrounded by policemen and taken to the station.



The journalist tried to explain to the cops that he was only filming cars on the road in the heart of the southern port of Sidon but they insisted on taking him to the police station after seizing his camera and mobile phone.





“You have no written permission to take photographs here and anywhere in Lebanon…where is your permission,” a police man told the shocked journalist.



When the journalist said that he was only taking pictures of a street for a story on the new traffic law, the policemen replied that photographing is not allowed without a prior permission from the authorities.



At the station, the journalist was detained for nearly two hours, during which he was questioned by plainclothes detectives.





“In other countries, you may be allowed to take photographs of civilian places…but the situation here is different…we have to be careful in this country which has suffered from unstable conditions…you need to obtain a written permission from the concerned authorities before you take any picture,” a detective told the journalist before releasing him and handing back his cleared camera and mobile phone.



Foreign tourists who come to Lebanon are told to be careful when photographing public places although they are allowed to take shots inside certain sites.



A Western tourist caught photographing in the Old Sidon City last year was briefly detained before his identify was verified by his embassy.





“The situation in Lebanon is still a bit tense …people are generally nervous and do not like to see foreigners coming here and taking pictures,” a Sidon resident said.



“Of course they are welcome to come and enjoy our city…but they should stick to the rules…they just have to get permission for photographing to avoid any trouble.”



Lebanon, which suffered from a 20-year civil war during 1975-1995, introduced its toughest traffic law last week in a bid to end anarchy on roads.



The enforcement of the law was accompanied with intensified police patrols and an extensive awareness drive involving the media and mobile phone texts.



The law involves heavy fines for faulty cars, seat belt offences, speeding, reckless driving, and the operation of private cars as taxis.



Foreigners visiting Lebanon are struck by the extent of road violations as a result of previously lax laws and the absence of sufficient police patrols.



“We hope the new law will curb some of the dangerous road violations, including reckless driving, jumping the red signal and driving in opposite directions…but I think people here need time to get used to discipline after many years of anarchy and hostilities,” said an official at Sidon’s municipality.



“We also hope police on roads will not forget to warn drivers against the incessant and unnecessary honking of their cars…it seems honking has become a habit by most motorists, mainly taxi drivers, but we hope it will gradually disappear after the enforcement of the new traffic law.”

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