Diplomatic privileges

[SteveLaura 0]

US owes £1.5 million, Nigeria £700 thousand and Sudan £545 thousand.

United States leads the way with £1.5m in outsanding congestion charge payments, Channel 4 News online has learned.

Wealthy foreign diplomats are dodging millions of pounds in bills for unpaid parking fines and congestion charges.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett says embassies now owe millions for unpaid congestion charges - while only one in nine parking fines is being settled.

Despite pleas from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the bills to be paid the vast majority remain outstanding - with many diplomats believing their status means they don't have to cough up.

The United States' unpaid congestion charge bill hit £1.5m in the past year; with Nigeria second on £700,000, and Sudan third on £545,000.

Meanwhile a total of 5,484 tickets were issued to diplomats for dodgy parking and minor traffic offences - with 4,859 remaining unpaid. Saudi Arabia is the worst offender, with £30,000 in fines still outstanding.

Earlier this year the FCO wrote to all the embassies urging them to cough up.

A spokeswoman for the FCO said: "Where necessary, we will draw the attention of Heads of Mission to particular persistent offenders, warning of possible further action.

Congestion charge worst offenders

Mission Number of fines Value £

USA 15,150 1,484,765

Nigeria 6,949 682,370

Sudan 5,633 545,990

Japan 4,119 386,150

Tanzania 3,119 298,940

Kenya 3,099 292,830

South Africa 2,773 267,290

Sierra Leone 2,619 252,310

Germany 2,515 223,950

Zimbabwe 1,641 157,430

"The majority of missions pay the congestion charge on time and do not incur fines. We also wrote to all missions owing over £1,000 in fines urging them to settle their debts with Transport for London."

The US embassy - along with many others - has refused to pay the congestion fee on the grounds that it is tax; and therefore diplomats are exempt from paying it.

It has led to stinging criticism from London mayor Ken Livingstone, who branded US ambassador Robert Tuttle a "venal little crook" for his refusal to pay.

Actor Tom Conti, founder of campaign group London Motorists Action Group (LMAG), said: "I think the American ambassador's stance on this is very reasoned, I think he makes his case very well.

"Obviously, when you have got a parking ticket then you've done something wrong - so you should pay up. But in terms of the congestion charge I can see how some of these diplomats feel."

A spokesman for the US Embassy said: "The embassy has already said what it has to say on this matter and has nothing to add."

Source

Edited June 22, 2007 by SteveLaura

[chri'stina 190]

Well now I want a doughnut!

[SteveLaura 0]

Help yourself, Stina. Take two. No, there may be others coming. Take one. Not the pink one, tho.

[sparkofcreation 0]

I read a similar article about countries' consulates in New York City and embassies in Washington DC ... there are some countries whose diplomatic missions haven't paid rent in years, and we all know rent in NYC ain't cheap!

[bora bora 1]

Why am I not surprised about the outstanding payments...

[KarenCee 3]

I'll take a doughnut and while I'm nibbling on it, I'll write that letter!

[Nessa 23]

no

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I voted no on the first, but more complex on second.

UK got a lot (probably over $5 billion in 2007 US$) under Marshall Plan to rebuild; it's rebuilt, and had more than one business-cycle (up and down) since then--so I think it's time UK pays US back its post-WW2 obligations. :lol:

Edited June 23, 2007 by CherryXS

[Saddle Bronc 124]

I read a similar article about countries' consulates in New York City and embassies in Washington DC ... there are some countries whose diplomatic missions haven't paid rent in years, and we all know rent in NYC ain't cheap!

And don't forget about the UN--which also runs up more than $3 million worth of unpaid parking tickets every year (and this is at least since 1977, so you've got at least $30 million owing so far).

Unlike the US Marshall Plan which allowed moneys to UK for rebuilding (post WW2), the UN is supported by taxes from member nations (of that 45% comes from US). A good excuse for tossing the UN entirely--let it get its new HQ in Caracas, Tehran, Damascus or Tank (Waziristan)!

[Mags 112]

This has been a bone of contention in the UK for a couple of years now. US embassy refuses to pay, Ken Livingston tells them they have to pay....and so on.

I think they shouldn't be exempt. They should pay like the rest of us have to, or had to.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

There's a solution--Let Mr. Livingston pay their fines (he can afford it personally)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

This has been an issue in NYC for a very long time. UN bastids get away with all kinds of crazy ####### because they're diplomats. Tons of unpaid parking tickets and ignored citations.

I read a similar article about countries' consulates in New York City and embassies in Washington DC ... there are some countries whose diplomatic missions haven't paid rent in years, and we all know rent in NYC ain't cheap!

NYC now wants to charge diplomatic missions that house their own employees property taxes.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Note: my contention that Mr. Livingston should eat the fines only applies for US embassy (as US gave Marshall Plan aid to UK), not others.

[featherB 1]

I think they should pay up. Oh... Madonna also refuses (or was refusing, a while ago) to pay the congestion charge, on some ridiculous grounds or other. Maybe she thinks she has diplomatic immunity now...

[Saddle Bronc 124]

...Oh... Madonna also refuses (or was refusing, a while ago) to pay the congestion charge, on some ridiculous grounds or other. Maybe she thinks she has diplomatic immunity now...

No, just "chopfrack wanna-get-publicity celebrity syndrome". :lol: