Does diplomatic immunity alow a blatent disregard for a countries laws?

Question

Does diplomatic immunity alow a blatent disregard for a countries laws?

Is blatant disregard shown to countries laws by people who are granted diplomatic immunity? does this happen and what are some examples

Answer 1

Absolutely, a diplomat from another country could be drunk as can be and run you down in a cross walk and be immune from prosecution.  You might be able to take them to civil court and sue, but you'll get paid only if they feel like it.  Trying to serve the papers to the diplomat could be next to impossible because if they live at an embassy or consulate, that is their private ground (like being in their country) and if they don't want the papers to be served, they will make sure they don't.

While this is an extreme example, parking citations, tickets and any other citations happen every day.

Answer 2

its not just in the ;US  a drunk russian killed a women in ottawa,ontario,canada and got away with it ,, he was sent home.. only due to extreme preasure did he face a few yrs in a russian jaill.... but lets not forget... american and also canadian diplomats break the laws of the countries they are in too...in works both ways.

Answer 3

It can, yes.

Yes it has happened but the country in question does have the right to deport a diplomat.

Realize WHY they have diplomatic immunity.  Because it's easy to assume that a place like Iran could charge a women diplomat with not wearing a veil, driving, etc.

Answer 4

Absolutely! Particularly by Ambassadors visiting the U.S. from other countries.  I can't cite exact sources but there have been instances of "untouchables" committing crimes here and then being able to get away w/o punishment because they had D.I.

Answer 5

It surely does. Murder and drunk driving in NY by diplomatic staff, just to name a few.

Answer 6

The very laws that allow foreign diplomats to disregard our laws are the same laws that protect our ambassadors & diplomats from the absurd laws in foreign countries such as the separation of the sexes in countries like Saudi Arabia or the wearing of the veil, etc.

Answer 7

Yes. WPC Yvonne Fletcher was shot by Libyan Embassy personnel in 1984 - noone was ever charged.