HomeFairfax General ForumArrest/Ticket SearchWiki newPictures/VideosChatArticlesLinksAbout
Fairfax County General :  Fairfax Underground fairfax underground logo
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: new_cow ()
Date: November 30, 2007 06:42PM

do Fairfax County cops ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?

I actually have one in mind... the person was doing at least 100mph on I-66.
At the time all the cars around me(including my own car, obviously) were all
doing 60 to 65mph. A dark blue BMW 550i with a diplomatic license plate
shot past us on the left. It was like the rest of there cars were standing
still.

About half mile down the road, an unmarked VA State Police cruise was just
sitting on the medium(near the left shoulder) I imagine the officer must
have seen the blue BMW, but didn't chase him because of the license plate, no?

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Ken ()
Date: November 30, 2007 06:57PM

Diplomatic license plates are issued by the U.S. Department of State.

A vehicle bearing diplomatic license plates can be stopped for any reason and the driver, even a diplomat with full immunity, may be issued a summons or ticket. If they have full immunity they may not be physically arrested or they may not have to appear in court, however.

Police are required to notify the State Department's Diplomatic Security office of any tickets issued to diplomats. That office tracks any and all violations.

Since most diplomats want to cooperate and be a good ambassador to their country, they will usually pay their fines even though they may not be legally required to do so.

If the State Department hears of too many run-ins with a particular diplomat, they could have their license and registation revoked. If it's gotten to that point, the diplomat's home country is usually aware and they may choose to recall the diplomat and make them come home as it is viewed as an embarrassment to the home country.

In some extreme violations of law, the diplomat's home country may choose to revoke immunity making the diplomat subject to full prosecution.

A few years ago a diplomat from the Republic of Georgia in the former Soviet Union was driving drunk and killed a young girl in DC. His immunity was revoked by his home country and he is now serving a prison sentence.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Radiophile ()
Date: November 30, 2007 08:12PM

You got the story almost right. A diplomat can waive immunity if he or she chooses to do so. Should the Diplomat NOT waive his immunity, his home country has to stand behind him 100%. If not, he or she is screwed. In other words, it must be in the countries best interest to stand behind their diplomat. When the diplomat you spoke of got into the accident (witnesses say drunk), his home country would not have stood behind him - they wanted US aid and trade agreements and wanted to minimize this public relations disaster. So even if the diplomat had jumped up and immediately claimed immunity - the fact his home country would not agree, technically they can revoke this privilege at the drop of a hat - it was not going to happen. The 11:00 news never mentioned the fact, only that he "could" claim immunity. Anyone who knows how it really works, knew the sucker was screwed.

Next, please realize that President Carter signed the reciprocity act - meaning we only treat your diplomats as well as you treat ours. One noteworthy accomplishment of this monumental act, was this: For years the soviet embassy diplomats were parking on the sidewalk and in front of hydrants etc. All this while the personnel in the old American embassy in Moscow had no place to park and their requests to the Soviet government went unheard.

Immediately after President Carter signed the reciprocity act, Soviet embassy vehicles were towed off the sidewalks and soviet cars with 100s of unpaid parking tickets were booted.

Miraculously, the American Embassy in Moscow got their parking spaces real quick.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/30/2007 08:13PM by Radiophile.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Mofo ()
Date: December 01, 2007 01:37AM

Well, a cop can ticket a diplomatic plate all they wish, but if the country/diplomat doesn't choose to pay it then the US gov has no recourse. A diplomat can be ticketed to their heart's will, but they don't have to pay anything.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Radiophile ()
Date: December 01, 2007 01:46AM

please read the previous post. Please speak from knowledge and do not just speak.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Mofo ()
Date: December 01, 2007 04:08AM

Radiophile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> please read the previous post. Please speak from
> knowledge and do not just speak.


The State Department brokered an initial accord with the city, in which diplomats could have lost the license plates on their cars if they ignored tickets. In a puzzling blunder, however, the department discovered after this agreement was reached that it could not be enforced. Lawyers at the United Nations maintained that any punishment of an individual diplomat violated his or her immunity under the 1947 agreement signed when the United Nations located in New York City. Back at square one, Washington offered a new agreement in which an accumulation of unpaid tickets would result in the nonrenewal of a vehicle registration at the relevant mission, circumventing the idea of sanctioning an individual diplomat.

Feel free to arrest/ticket a diplomat and see how far you get.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19970110/ai_n9641804



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2007 04:09AM by Mofo.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Radiophile ()
Date: December 01, 2007 09:47AM

The original thread is about diplomats being pulled over - insinuating they were in a moving vehicle. The thread was NOT about UN parking policies. But I will address the parking issue.

I am not sure what this "fact" is you are referring to. The United Nations diplomats have always been a thorn in the side for New York City police,but I get my facts from publications like the Economist and .gov websites.

About whether diplomats at the UN pay their parking fines, read this

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7281145

Next I want you to drive to DC. While DC has no real "Embassy Row" drive down Wisconsin Ave from the Bethesda area past the Naval Observatory. You will see many embassies. Then drive down 16th street. Go past the Adams Morgan area towards Casa Blanca. There too, you will find many embassies.

On your tour of the Nations capital, open your eyes. Look for double parked vehicles. Look for vehicles parked on sidewalks, in front of hydrants etc. You will see very few, and fewer of these still will have diplomatic plates.

Next, I would like you to search the web. I would like you to pay specific attention to websites that end in ".gov" or ".edu" and even ".int" there you should find accurate information.

Did you know that the UN has a group that deals with parking tickets? Did you know it is unwise for diplomats to just ignore tickets? You will find many facinating facts at the website UN.int.
On your trip through DC spying on diplomats flagarantly sppeding and illegally parking, stop by the OFM. They will be happy to chat with you. They are located off of Conneticut Ave and Van Ness. In the middle of another unofficial "Embassy Row". Look to see how many illegaly parked vehicles are there, also.

But, I understood, driving to DC is too difficult. So I made it easier for you. Read this from www.state.gov/ofm

The Office of Foreign Missions: Ensuring Foreign Diplomats Obey the Law

The Office of Foreign Missions (OFM), within the Department of State, administers the privileges enjoyed by foreign diplomatic and consular missions and their personnel in the United States. These privileges, defined by two treaties--the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, fall into four major functional areas: the acquisition, ownership, and sale of real property; customs duty-free entry; tax exemption; and travel. Under the domestic authority of the 1982 Foreign Missions Act (22 U.S.C. 4301, et seq.), OFM administers these privileges on a basis of reciprocity and national security.

Although the treaties do not address the ownership or operation of motor vehicles, OFM serves as the source of motor vehicle services to the foreign mission community.

How Reciprocity Works
Foreign diplomats based in the United States receive the same privileges that their respective governments grant our diplomats abroad, giving OFM enormous leverage to secure fair treatment for U.S. diplomats and staff overseas.

If a foreign government imposes restrictions on the privileges available to a U.S. mission and their personnel, OFM will impose similar restrictions on that country’s missions and personnel and will enter into negotiation with that government to remove the restrictions, making it easier and less expensive for the United States to conduct relations with the country.

Property
OFM's Property Program authorizes the purchase, lease, sale, or expansion of real property. OFM provides guidance to foreign missions, local governments, attorneys, and real estate brokers regarding property taxation, zoning, and related matters. OFM oversees the preservation and maintenance of those foreign mission properties with which the United States no longer maintains diplomatic relations.

Handling about 300 requests a year, OFM reviews each request basing their decision on reciprocity and national security.

Customs
OFM receives, processes, and reviews applications by the foreign mission community for the duty-free importation of official and personal shipments and the purchase of duty-free items from bonded warehouse retailers. The office also resolves problems encountered by foreign missions in the shipment and receipt of diplomatic and consular pouches.

In FY 2003, OFM processed 24,778 duty-free applications submitted by foreign missions, international organizations, or their personnel.

Tax Exemption
OFM’s Diplomatic Tax Exemption Program ensures proper exemption for foreign missions and their members from sales, utility, vehicle purchase, and fuel taxes. Applications for tax exemption are processed based upon the number of foreign missions and mission members submitting requests and on the claimant’s eligibility status. Exemptions are granted or denied to foreign missions and their members in accordance with international law and reciprocity.

In addition to producing tax exemption cards, OFM manages the State Department’s initiative to ensure the equitable tax treatment of U.S. missions and employees overseas.

In FY 2003, OFM produced just over 4,000 sales tax exemption cards and processed almost 900 applications for tax exemption on utilities and over 1,500 applications for tax exemption on gasoline purchases.

Travel
The Foreign Missions Act authorizes the Secretary of State to designate the terms and conditions under which benefits may be granted to foreign missions. In March 1983, the Secretary determined that travel services for personnel and their dependents from certain foreign missions could be obtained only through OFM. Those foreign missions must file a request for air, bus, and rail travel services.

Other identified foreign missions must request the Department's permission to travel by submitting notification to OFM before all proposed travel.

Travel limitations affect only a small number of countries and are subject to periodic review.

Diplomatic Motor Vehicles
OFM’s Diplomatic Motor Vehicles Program is responsible for a full range of motor vehicle services for the foreign mission community. This nationwide program, which is administered in accordance with U.S. laws, regulates the acquisition, registration, and disposition of all motor vehicles belonging to foreign missions and their members. It verifies that mandated insurance standards be maintained, ensures that members of the foreign mission community and their families are issued U.S. Department of State driver licenses, and monitors driving records to ensure unsafe drivers are removed from the road.

As of December 31, 2003, OFM was enforcing reciprocal restrictions on the diplomatic and consular missions of 116 countries. OFM coordinated action with regard to 60 countries, including the institution of 14 new reciprocity policies and the implementation of 24 major revisions to current reciprocity policies based on changes in host country policies with regard to U.S. missions. The diplomatic missions of six countries have indicated that they have requested policy changes to remove restrictions imposed on U.S. missions and personnel as result of OFM’s strict enforcement of reciprocity.

By using reciprocity as a policy to enforce these programs, OFM encourages countries to extend more equitable treatment to U.S. missions and personnel abroad. OFM’s services benefit the American public by helping to prevent the abuse of diplomatic privileges and immunities and by protecting the security interests of the United States.

OFM establishes and maintains relationships with U.S. law enforcement and security communities at the national, state, and local levels to educate these communities about diplomatic privilege and immunity issues. To facilitate the administration of these programs to the foreign diplomatic community, OFM has regional offices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, and San Francisco.

To learn more about OFM’s programs and activities, please visit www.state.gov/ofm.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2007 09:49AM by Radiophile.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: cheap bastard ()
Date: December 01, 2007 10:13AM

It works both ways. You have to extend them immunity so that when American diplomats are in say the Sudan they do not get rounded up for naming their teddy bears mohommad.

Options: ReplyQuote
Re: do Fairfax County cops or VA State Police ever pull over cars with diplomatic license plates for speeding and other traffic offenses?
Posted by: Ali ()
Date: December 05, 2007 10:58AM

I dont think diplomats should be ticketed, cuz they got very important job to do. Could you imagine if a diplomat had to worry about that kinda stuff? International relations would be f.uckked.

Options: ReplyQuote


Your Name: 
Your Email (Optional): 
Subject: 
Attach a file
  • No file can be larger than 75 MB
  • All files together cannot be larger than 300 MB
  • 30 more file(s) can be attached to this message
Spam prevention:
Please, enter the code that you see below in the input field. This is for blocking bots that try to post this form automatically.
  ******    **     **  **     **  **     **  ******** 
 **    **   **     **  ***   ***   **   **   **    ** 
 **         **     **  **** ****    ** **        **   
 **   ****  *********  ** *** **     ***        **    
 **    **   **     **  **     **    ** **      **     
 **    **   **     **  **     **   **   **     **     
  ******    **     **  **     **  **     **    **     
This forum powered by Phorum.