Parked incorrectly or driving too fast – last year the Berlin police recorded 9973 traffic violations by diplomats. Around 200,000 euros in fines would have been due – actually. But diplomats enjoy immunity.
Last year, the police recorded 9973 traffic violations committed by foreign diplomats on Berlin’s roads – but all of them were not prosecuted because of the immunity enjoyed by international embassy staff.
The sum of the actually due warnings or fines, which the diplomats did not have to pay, amounts to a good 200,000 euros. This is the result of a response from the interior administration to a parliamentary question from the CDU.
Incorrect parking or speeding
According to the report, the most common offenses were parking violations and speeding. The top ten countries concerned include Saudi Arabia, Greece, the USA, Iraq, Russia, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Indonesia and Turkmenistan.
Over the past few years, however, the total number of such traffic violations has shown a downward trend. In 2018, more than 21,000 administrative offenses were still registered by drivers in cars with diplomatic license plates; in 2020, the figure was 12,570.
Traffic accidents and hit-and-run driving
The behavior of members of diplomatic staff after accidents continues to be a cause for concern. According to the Interior Administration, they were involved in 46 traffic accidents from January to November 2021; data for December is not yet available. In 28 cases – a good 60 percent – there was suspicion of hit-and-run. In these cases, too, German authorities have no legal means of imposing sanctions.
Currently, 2550 Diplomatic Corps vehicles are registered with special license plates.
4 comments
Almost 10,000 traffic violations by diplomats
Parked incorrectly or driving too fast – last year the Berlin police recorded 9973 traffic violations by diplomats. Around 200,000 euros in fines would have been due – actually. But diplomats enjoy immunity.
Last year, the police recorded 9973 traffic violations committed by foreign diplomats on Berlin’s roads – but all of them were not prosecuted because of the immunity enjoyed by international embassy staff.
The sum of the actually due warnings or fines, which the diplomats did not have to pay, amounts to a good 200,000 euros. This is the result of a response from the interior administration to a parliamentary question from the CDU.
Incorrect parking or speeding
According to the report, the most common offenses were parking violations and speeding. The top ten countries concerned include Saudi Arabia, Greece, the USA, Iraq, Russia, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen, Indonesia and Turkmenistan.
Over the past few years, however, the total number of such traffic violations has shown a downward trend. In 2018, more than 21,000 administrative offenses were still registered by drivers in cars with diplomatic license plates; in 2020, the figure was 12,570.
Traffic accidents and hit-and-run driving
The behavior of members of diplomatic staff after accidents continues to be a cause for concern. According to the Interior Administration, they were involved in 46 traffic accidents from January to November 2021; data for December is not yet available. In 28 cases – a good 60 percent – there was suspicion of hit-and-run. In these cases, too, German authorities have no legal means of imposing sanctions.
Currently, 2550 Diplomatic Corps vehicles are registered with special license plates.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator
It doesnt make sense that diplomats have immunity for traffic violations.
This shit must be abolished.
Well. As long as they don’t kill anyone…
You honestly can’t expect to have someone who never drove in Germany to have a half decent road ethics.
Meh. Stats are slowly improving. Good luck.
It’s just disgusting how some seem to abuse this – it’s a sign of disrespect. Need to kick the offenders out more readily.