Editing Diplomatic immunity (section)

====Parking violations====

A particular problem is the difficulty in enforcing ordinary laws, such as prohibitions on [[double parking]]. For example, the [[Autobahn 555]] in [[Cologne]], Germany was nicknamed the "Diplomatenrennbahn" (Diplomat's Raceway), when [[Bonn]] was the capital of [[West Germany]], because of the numerous diplomats that used to speed through the highway under diplomatic immunity. Certain cities, for example [[The Hague]] and New York City have taken to impounding such cars rather than fining their owners. Diplomats' status does not guarantee the release of impounded cars.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neil |date=2021-12-01 |title=Privilege |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2021/12/01/414588/privilege/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=BusinessWorld Online |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-11-21 |title=Canberra Times letters to the editor: Welcome response to diplomatic privilege being abused on roads |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6039738/canberra-times-letters-to-the-editor-welcome-response-to-diplomatic-privilege-being-abused-on-roads/ |access-date=2022-06-19 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU}}</ref> Diplomats' cars may not be searched or entered in the US.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2018-DipConImm_v5_Web.pdf|title=Diplomatic and Consular Immunity: Guidance for Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref>

Diplomatic missions have their own regulations, but many require their staff to pay any fines due for parking violations. A 2006 economic study found that there was a significant correlation between home-country [[Political corruption|corruption]] (as measured by [[Transparency International]]) and unpaid parking fines: six countries had in excess of 100 violations per diplomat: [[Kuwait]], [[Egypt]], [[Chad]], [[Sudan]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Mozambique]].<ref>{{Cite report | first1 =Ray | last1 =Fisman | first2 =Edward | last2 =Miguel | title =Cultures of Corruption: Evidence from Diplomatic Parking tickets | url =http://www.usc.edu/schools/business/FBE/seminars/papers/AE_4-28-06_FISMAN-parking.pdf | date =28 April 2006 | publisher =USC FBE Applied Economics Workshop | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160217001131/http://www.usc.edu/schools/business/FBE/seminars/papers/AE_4-28-06_FISMAN-parking.pdf | archive-date =17 February 2016 | df =dmy-all }}</ref> In particular, [[New York City]], which hosts the [[United Nations]] Headquarters, regularly protests to the [[United States Department of State]] about nonpayment of parking tickets because of diplomatic status. In 2001, the city had more than 200,000 outstanding parking tickets from diplomats, totaling more than $21.3 million, of which only $160,682 had been collected;<ref name="JOHN J. GOLDMAN">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jul-03-mn-18122-story.html|title=NYC's Diplomatic Take on Tickets|date=3 July 2001|author=JOHN J. GOLDMAN|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> a decade later, the total cost of unpaid parking tickets was over $17 million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-09-24 |title=Diplomats owe $17 mln in New York parking fines |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-un-fines-newyork-idUSLNE78N00D20110924 |access-date=2022-10-14}}</ref> In 1997, then-mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] proposed to the [[Clinton administration]] that the U.S. State Department revoke the special DPL plates for diplomats who ignore parking summonses; the State Department denied Giuliani's request.<ref name="JOHN J. GOLDMAN"/>

In cities that impose a [[Congestion pricing|congestion charge]], the decision of some diplomatic missions not to furnish payment has proved controversial. In London, embassies have amassed approximately £58 million in unpaid charges as of 2012, with the American embassy comprising approximately £6 million and the Russian, German and Japanese missions around £2 million each.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18725937 | location=London | work=BBC News | title=Diplomats 'owe £58m in London congestion charges' | date=5 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/new-york-times-urges-us-embassy-pay-congestion-charge |title=New York Times urges US Embassy to pay congestion charge &#124; Greater London Authority |publisher=London.gov.uk |date=31 March 2006 |access-date=19 December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502021241/http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/new-york-times-urges-us-embassy-pay-congestion-charge |archive-date= 2 May 2012 }}</ref>