RI diplomats among the worst parking offenders

RI diplomats among the worst parking offenders

NEW YORK (Agencies): Indonesian diplomats in New York have been rated among the worst offenders of parking regulations in the Big Apple, Associated Press reported on Saturday.

The Daily News said diplomats at the Indonesian consulate and the permanent mission to the United Nations committed 8,966 parking violations between 1997 and 2000, paid US$2,811 in fines but still owed $973,502 in unpaid tickets.

That is still better than Egypt, the worst when it comes to ignoring New York City parking tickets, with its diplomats ringing up 15,924 violations, and owing nearly $1.7 million. Nigeria and Kuwait are the two other countries to beat Indonesia.

New York City officials said the diplomats get away with it because of international immunity. They also said leaders of missions and consulates receive a monthly report informing them how much is owed on parking violations.

Figures obtained by the newspaper show diplomats from the 289 missions and consulates in New York racked up more than $21.3 million in penalties and fines on more than 200,000 parking tickets issued between 1997 and 2000.

But the city received only $160,682 from tickets issued to an estimated 2,700 vehicles with diplomatic plates, the newspaper said.