Getting Other Nations to Pay Their Parking Tickets

For as long as we can remember diplomats and their distaste for paying parking tickets and property taxes have been a go-to political issue for New York politicians. Everybody agrees that there is a problem and nobody has a good solution (beyond, y'know, the diplos paying up...). So the fact that Chuck and Hillary, a year after saying they were going to do something, seem to actually be doing something is a little surprising.

What a bummer then that we're really unsure how we feel about the Schumer/Clinton compromise currently being pushed through the House and Senate. Why? Because their solution is to take the amount of money foreign nations owe New York out of their foreign aid. Which a) seems a little drastic to us and b) still doesn't, unless we're really misunderstanding (which is always possible), get the money (around $218 million in taxes and tickets) into New York's pockets. It just keeps the money out of other countries aid (and out of what part of the aid? education? health? who knows...). Isn't there a way to do this without punishing the wrong people?

But that's just us. Do you want to take other countries back taxes and tickets out of their foreign aid?

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By Garth Johnston in News on November 5, 2005 11:48 AM

Comments [rss]

quickness

Registrations for dip vehicles that have traffic fines registered since a few years ago will not be renewed. Fines would therefore have to be paid. They are not getting the same immunities as the dip community in all other countries. And don't forget, the dip community in other countries include us.

So yes, priorities, like the post above.

Budi

Lets not punish people worthy of getting aid for the arrogance of their spoiled diplomatic corp shall we. Lets work on taking away their immunity so they would have to find parking, pay tickets if they screw up or use the subway like everybody else. I'm originally from one of the countries in question. I'm sick and tired of seeing these people who are suppose to represent my country disrespect the law. Lets stick it to them where it hurts, their own personal pockets, for their own personal arrogance.

Gugnu

Hell, yes! Disaster relief and war reparations are one thing, but improving the education and healthcare of other nations should be the business of respected charities and grassroots movements not corrupted state agencies/ministries.

Dana

Yes.

Felicia

Hell, no! We're already stingy when it comes to foreign aid; now, we're going to take more money out because some douchebags refuse to pay their parking tickets! What is wrong with politicians?! Priority, I say, priority!