Diplomatic drivers ignoring road rules
A group of drivers is regularly speeding, drink driving and parking anywhere they want to and legally getting away with it.
They are foreign diplomats claiming diplomatic immunity and now 7News can reveal which embassies ignore our road rules the most.
Run a red light, park illegally, drink drive or speed and you risk being punished to the full extent of the law. But not if you're a foreign diplomat.
Drivers from dozens of foreign embassies are breaking road rules - even drink driving and doing burnouts.
Legal experts say the law is powerless to charge them, because of their ‘diplomatic immunity’.
Dr Jacqueline Mowbray, of the University of Sydney Law School, said: “The job of the diplomat is to represent their own country and they can't do that fearlessly and independently if they're subject to any pressure in any form from Australian authorities.”
When they are fined, many refuse to pay. In just one year, the Saudi Arabian embassy ignored 108 tickets worth almost $24,000.
Followed by Russia, with 49 fines, Jordan with 22 fines, Libya with 21 fines and Kuwait with18 fines
The total for all embassies: $118,000.
Nobody at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Canberra would tell 7News why such a wealthy country would refuse to pay its fines.
Federal Police documents reveal how some diplomats flout the law. One refused a breath test even though police reported the driver
Another was speeding and talking on a mobile phone. When pulled over, he gave the officer the finger and told him police ‘couldn't touch him’.
Peter Khoury, of the NRMA, said: “There are options available to the Australian Government about what should be done in those cases and some of it could mean it might better if some of those people are sent home."
