A lot of bad feelings arising.

Can someone please explain to me what the logic is behind diplomatic immunity? I don’t understand why being a diplomat negates you from being beholden to the laws of the host land.
 
Well, that’s logical and it makes sense.

Perhaps due for a bit of an update though? Not really sure how war time diplomacy requirements relate to modern day traffic violations...!
 
I’ve come onto this thread as it was on the main news, and as the woman in question (I won’t call her lady!) appears to have a conviction for another traffic violation in the United States, but this is not to pre judge her, she was driving on the wrong side of the road, told the police that she would not be going back to the USA then returned under the radar on a private jet.

I do not know exactly what position her husband is in the intelligence service whilst they were over here- but it should have no bearing on a traffic offence – whatever military position he held he was of sufficiency high ranking to obtain a private jet to get back home whatever it is their motto is not

“Truth, Honour Duty”

I hope she doesn’t sleep at night.
 
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Bernhard said:
I hope she doesn’t sleep at night.
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This will likely be her only punishment other than being banned from returning.

Instead of a blanket law that grants total immunity, the laws of each country should be reviewed and select ones be included or excluded according to severity. Keep immunity for chickenshit parking tickets and end it for vehicular manslaughter.
 
The irony of all this since the woman returned to the USA to avoid a diplomatic incident has actually gone and caused a full-blown diplomatic incident!

Further information has come about that there is CCTV footage of a Volvo being driven on the wrong side of the road prior to the accident, which makes someone guilty, but even if the police did question the woman, they can do nothing as long as the diplomatic immunity is not waived.
 
Saying someone has immunity is one thing,proving it another. Apparently it was not registered ,so not in force.
 
Will any of this help to prevent motorcyclists being killed on public roads ? Most car drivers have never even had the experience of their vehicle swapping ends. When you ride a bike amongst them, you are really asking for it. I would say this - when I was in the UK, the drivers were much better than they are in Australia. The British attitude towards speed is generally better. On the motorways, they used to freak me out with their competence. If we had roundabouts which appear out of nowhere on Australian roads, most of us would be dead.
 
acotrel said:
Will any of this help to prevent motorcyclists being killed on public roads ? Most car drivers have never even had the experience of their vehicle swapping ends. When you ride a bike amongst them, you are really asking for it. I would say this - when I was in the UK, the drivers were much better than they are in Australia. The British attitude towards speed is generally better. On the motorways, they used to freak me out with their competence. If we had roundabouts which appear out of nowhere on Australian roads, most of us would be dead.
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Al,
This is not about “riding amongst them” the driver turned the wrong way onto a road with a 40 mph limit, even if you were in a car there would be a serious incident through hitting a more or less stationary vehicle at 40mph with no warning - you would expect it to turn into the other carriage way so you would not slow too much or anticipate the actions of this driver.
The issue remains that she then buggered off to the USA, refusing to talk to the Police.
Sure, it will not prevent fatalities on public roads but that is not the issue here.
 
Al your way of thinking is just plan silly and this accident was caused from no fault of the bike rider and a very big mistake on the driver who should face up to her mistake, she has killed a person who was just out at the wrong time and place, she needs to accept responsablity for her actions and face the full laws of the country she is in, no matter who she is.
As well her husband and his employer getting her out of the country so fast on a private jet at that needs to be addressed as well, all who were involved should be accounted for actions.
Its not going to bring back the person who got killed and no matter what becomes of it will not help the family of the rider, but running away from it doesn't help the riders family to recover from their lost, we all have a duty of care while on the road and no matter where we are in the world must face up to the music.
She would proberly just get a slap on the wrist for her mistake.

Ashley
 
Remember this: you can land here in the UK with a foreign driving license and merrily rent a car and drive off. If you have spent your life driving on "the other side" you will find it daunting. At some point in the first month you will make a wrong turn. Usually nothing happens and usually because nobody else is on the road ( no clue that you are on the wrong side). This is because nobody wants to upset the visitor
apple cart. A lot of money involved here. In one year you have to take a test to continue driving. After a year you are expected to have figured it all out. You likely will, except of course if you didn't.
Like that lady who fled the scene.
If she faced the music she might get banned for a spell but not much more. Too many apples involved.
 
ashman said:
Al your way of thinking is just plan silly and this accident was caused from no fault of the bike rider and a very big mistake on the driver who should face up to her mistake, she has killed a person who was just out at the wrong time and place, she needs to accept responsablity for her actions and face the full laws of the country she is in, no matter who she is.
As well her husband and his employer getting her out of the country so fast on a private jet at that needs to be addressed as well, all who were involved should be accounted for actions.
Its not going to bring back the person who got killed and no matter what becomes of it will not help the family of the rider, but running away from it doesn't help the riders family to recover from their lost, we all have a duty of care while on the road and no matter where we are in the world must face up to the music.
She would proberly just get a slap on the wrist for her mistake.

Ashley
Click to expand...

Well said Ashley, that just about sums it all up.
She's a person who has no moral fibre.
sam
 
If she has any sort of conscience whatsoever she will be beating herself up over her actions for a long time - the collision may have been an accident - her fault obviously - but running away was deliberate. Better for everyone - her included - to return and face the music. If indeed it is true that the US operated airbase allows driving on the right as in the USA , then perhaps this should change to driving on the left as is done once past the gates .
 
In Victoria, if you drive on The Great Ocean Road, it is quite common to find yourself coming head-on at a car driven by a foreign tourist. If you go down that way a lot, you know the risk. Also on that road, there are a lot of motorcycle accidents involving middle-aged guys riding Harleys.
 
you should have to deal with the hillbillies/rednecks/tailgaters/speeders/texters/ etc here in this nekkid of the Gasolovakia County NC woods. I have started 'crossing' myself before every ride after which I feel an exhilarating sensation like I have 'cheated death'
 
Now they're saying she may not enjoy the protection of diplomatic immunity. Only the Sate Department has not confirmed this. They may be influenced by the Orange One.
 
Trump has done it again, A crass attempt at a photoshoot to show the "big I am" has trampled all sensibilities into dust. His idea of the special relationship is a one way street. Thank God for the couples advisor who bravely put a stop to it.
 
According to Trump, it was Boris Johnson who asked him if he could arrange for them to meet - I agree it was totally crass on both their parts, and Trump should have told Boris where to get off!
 
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