Diplomatic Plates

[Dieseler]

I was wondering, aside from identifying the owner as an international Diplomat, what other benefits does owning a car with diplomatic plates?

Pwede bang bilhin din ang plates na ganyan?

[momoyster]

one very practical benefit (pero wag sanang abusuhin) is that d government has no jurisdiction over the diplomatic official. ergo, d yan pwedeng hulihin for traffic and other road regulations; in fact, diplomatic immunity, as sanctioned by international law, even extends to criminal and civil cases within the proper parameters. i dnt think such plates wud be for sale because it is only meant to be used by ambassadors and other diplomatic officials and one has to present himself first to the government before he is recognized as one. thus, it is only after that process, wud he be able to get those plates =)

[kiper]

Yes Immunity..Great!

Pagawa ka sa Recto sandali lang yan..Pero that woudn't be good.

[empy]

to get these plates, your car would need to be registered to either a country's embassy or a multilateral organization like the UN, World Bank or USAID

also, i don't know if it has changed, but the "real" diplomat plates (i.e. cars owned by ambassadors and others with diplomatic immunity) have only 4 digits...service cars owned by the embassy or the UN will have 5 digits.

when we lived in the Philippines my mom drove a van with 5-digit diplomatic plates (she worked for the UN at the time)...hindi ka talaga papansinin ng law enforcement whatever you do.

of course, pinagbawal ako na gumamit nung van - no telling what an immature teenager would do with a car with diplomatic plates ;)

[pajerokid]

Saw one earlier with 6 digits na... i guess they ran out of numbers.

[badkuk]

speaking of diplomatic plates...

A member of GMA's cabinet(Ponce ung apelido) died in a car accident early Sunday; his Prado got rammed by an Isuzu Trooper going in the opposite direction on the C5-Ortigas flyover that crossed the center lane.

His wife sustained serious injuries at was brought to hospital.

The Isuzu Trooper had a diplomatic plate, being driven by a 23-year old(i seriously doubt if he's a diplomat; baka anak/pamangkin ng diplomat)


ano kaya ang mangyayari sa kasong 'to...

[notEworthy27]

I don't know if these diplomatic plates are really true or not. If there were diplomats in the car, shouldn't they be driving like diplomats? I've seen some diplomatic cars go like crazy in the streets. Not very diplomatic I suppose. :D

[dx8976]

just to clarify; wasn't ponce in the trooper and the 23 year old "diplomat" in the prado?

but you're right, it would be interesting to know what happens in this case.

[Bud_wiser]

there was a big issue about diplomatic immunity and traffic violations when a foreign ambassador to the UN killed a motorist (a family pa ata, if I remember correctly) while driving drunk. All the US police could do is just ask that he be declared persona non grata and have him kicked out of the us. But the drunk driver was naver charges or spent time in jail at all.

[vinj]

If you're not entitled to it, dont get it IMHO.

My grandfather was entitled to diplomatic plates before (he was with the ADB that time) but he did not use it... He did use the tax-free privilege though. Imagine, a brand new Pajero at 400K+ only. Someone even offered him a brand new Pajero for free in exchange for using his tax free slot for a Benz the guy was bringing in... my lolo turned it down.

I know some peeps use the DFA to bring in tax free cars as well (but no diplomatic plates).

Kinda reminds me of the CSI episode i saw last week involving *sshole diplomat kids.

[mazdamazda]

Originally posted by Bud_wiser
there was a big issue about diplomatic immunity and traffic violations when a foreign ambassador to the UN killed a motorist (a family pa ata, if I remember correctly) while driving drunk. All the US police could do is just ask that he be declared persona non grata and have him kicked out of the us. But the drunk driver was naver charges or spent time in jail at all.

yes they can. they can also do anything at their embassy / consulates as these are extensions of their nation. our laws do not apply there.

but to note also that this same privelege is also extended to our FILIPINO diplomats working overseas.

I don't know if these diplomatic plates are really true or not. If there were diplomats in the car, shouldn't they be driving like diplomats? I've seen some diplomatic cars go like crazy in the streets. Not very diplomatic I suppose

yes, they are valid. to note also that OUR own FILIPINO drivers drive a whole lot crazier than them. my place of work is near the ADB but I have yet to see a reckless driver going or coming to the ADB. Name a car and they've got it: M3, X5, etc. Although many of them still use "ordinary" cars like CR-Vs, Sportage, Camry, etc.

[empy]

Originally posted by notEworthy27
If there were diplomats in the car, shouldn't they be driving like diplomats? I've seen some diplomatic cars go like crazy in the streets. Not very diplomatic I suppose. :D

keep in mind that most of these cars are not usually driven by the diplomats themselves - they might have pinoy drivers ;)

also, the service vehicles of the ADB, UN, WB, etc. are all driven daily by Filipino employees of those organizations.

[badkuk]

btw, papano kung opposite, i.e. pinoy ang nakadisgrasya ng diplomat?

[Dieseler]

What if the driver of the car with a diplomatic plate is a pinoy and he runs over someone?

Immune ba siya? I noticed kasi a lot of those rekless drivers are hired drivers lang, and they are usually like that when they are driving alone. (feeling yatang may-ari at immune kasi ).

[ssaloon]

follow up din, pano kung hindi naman nakasakay ang diplomat tapos yung pinoy driver yung naka-disgrasya?

[kimpOy]

try, once may nag counterflow na diplomat car ( i forgot ah benz yata) sakto ako ang nasa harapan niya, i did not move a bit, its his three pointed star or my TJM bumper.

when he opened the door he apologizes to me.

[Bud_wiser]

yup. the pinoy drivers are probably the more reckless ones behind the wheel. let's face it, discipline is not one of our strongest virtues.

I'm not a lawyer but I think a pinoy driver of a diplomatic car is immuned from suit. but he can be fired by his employers and I don't know if he becomes liable when he loses his "immunity by proximity" LOL

kimpOy, pinoy yung driver ng counterflowing car or foreigner?

[111prez]

yung filipino driver (presumably a filipino citizen or permanent resident of the philippines) of the diplomat or foreign embassy is still liable. he can be charged in our local courts (ref: art 37, 1961 vienna convention on diplomatic relations)

only the members of the diplomatic corp are not liable for arrests (refs: art 29 & art 31, supra) or the premises of the diplomatic mission or means of transportation are even immune to searches (ref: art 22[3], supra).

just my contribution lang po, hehehehe :D

[kimpOy]

bud_wiser,
pinoy yung driver, pero my hunch is inutos ng foreigner yung driver to counterflow, hunch lang im not sure

[kiper]

Benderbot..astig resourceful ah..san mo nakuha yan?