Parking Violation --- Immunity from prosecution under the Vienna Convention may be a vital part of international relations, but it does little good for the moral fibre of the individuals involved.

As of April in Canberra, Australia, diplomats representing various foreign powers owed the city more than A$500,000 (£290,000) – mostly in unpaid parking fines. Tickets for running red lights and speeding were also common. Saudi Arabian diplomats alone owed nearly A$140,000.

Advertisement In New York, meanwhile, the total bill for parking tickets issued to UN diplomats was more than $16m (£12.3m) as of March. Here Egypt was by far the worst offender, with a debt of nearly $2m, although more than a third of that was the handiwork of just four cars. One of them – registration 001 THD – accrued $109,165 in fines from 1,985 offences, many of which date back to the last century. Since then, with added penalties, the total has more than doubled. Who knows whether the malefactor is still in New York, or even still alive?

Source author: Nyoka Ashton nashton@gov.vc