Diplomatic Immunity

[Velvet Glove]

Someone asked about Dip immunity a few weeks ago so it jarred me into refreshing my knowledge of it. Particularly relevant here in the ACT.

It is very complicated like I thought, but I will explain it as briefly as I can. It depends what class people fall into. Diplomatic, consular, international organisations, service staff or overseas missions.

Diplomatic agents have immunity from prosecution and/or arrest, as do their dependants. This can be waived by their home country. These people cant be forced into a breath test, but we can make arrangements for them not to drive until they're sober enough to do so. DFAT can chase the matter up and have diplomats sent home etc etc, and it has happened.

To be honest the diplomats in Canberra are very obliging of our laws and dont want to draw any attention to themselves. They pay speeding/parking fines (well most of them do). Immunity is not intended as a licence to flout the law and diplomats are expected to respect the laws of Oz. In other words we can give them tickets and it would be very embarassing to their mission if they didnt pay them. There was a bit of an uproar in the ACT a few years ago when one embassy didnt pay their parking fines....they have now !!

Generally everyone below diplomats doesnt have the same rights of immunity.

Hope that helps

[Cro]

Thanks.

I hope the same goes for when they cause an accident...

[Falchoon]

Some of the people I've seen driving cars (usually Beemers or Mercs) with DC plates (Dumb C*nts I think it must stand for...) can't drive for sh*t. It's not that they don't undertand the road rules, they are just bad drivers.

[MattB]

Some of the embassies have actually stopped wearing the DC plates, particularly the USA as you can know from the first two numbers after the DC what embassy they're from. So even more measures to ensure they don't draw attention to themselves by just wearing the regular Yogi plates.