Simple and Clean

Diplomats Enjoy 'Free Parking' in Nation's Capital

Aug 4th - 5:02am

Mark Segraves, WTOP Radio

WASHINGTON - For most motorists in the nation's capital, two or more unpaid parking tickets will result in that big, ugly yellow boot on your car. But if you're a diplomat, it's a different story.

Local authorities are prohibited by the U.S. State Department from enforcing parking tickets issued to embassy vehicles that display diplomatic tags. That means embassies don't have to pay parking tickets and don't have to worry about getting the boot.

Since 2001, embassies have racked up more than $250,000 in unpaid parking tickets, according to documents WTOP obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. In 2005 the total was $79,890 for 971 unpaid tickets.

The biggest offender for 2005 was Cameroon with 78 outstanding tickets totaling $5,855. Albania comes in second with 50 tickets worth $4,370.

France averages about $1,000 per year in unpaid tickets. Other countries that owe the District more than $1,000 for last year include: Australia, Egypt, El Salvador, Iceland and South Africa.

(Copyright 2006 by WTOP Radio. All Rights Reserved.)

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And now, the obligatory West Wing quote:
Bartlett: There are big signs! You can't park there! They should get towed! I hope they get towed to Queens and the Triboro is closed and there's a big craft show at Shea, a flea market or a tractor show!

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Top 5 video game music sequences (stand-alone cutscenes apart from normal gameplay):
1. The opera scene from Final Fantasy VI
2. Link and Sheik playing any song together in Ocarina of Time
3. Opening sequence from Kingdom Hearts II (Sanctuary by Utada Hikaru)
4. Opening sequence from Metal Gear Solid 2, especially the last thirty seconds
5. The (good) ending in Chrono Cross