Does Diplomatic Immunity Really Make It So You Can Get Away with Murder?

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In this video:
While the idea of some form of diplomatic immunity has existed seemingly as long as there have been humans banding together in some form, the modern rules surrounding this were originally laid out in 1961 at the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, with to date 191 different nations ratifying that treaty. Pop culture would have you believe that these rules function as something of a “get out of jail free” card for any and all crimes committed by diplomats.
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news.bbc.co.uk/...
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www.state.gov/o...
www.rd.com/advi...
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www.washingtonp...
foreignpolicy....
www.diplomacy....
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[@TommoCarroll]

Winston Churchill: “Diplomacy is the ability to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip.” God damn I love this 😂

[@channelwonnews4322]

That is a brilliant string of words.

[@TommoCarroll]

Aral Ynot I've got to agree with you there Aral, it's genius!

[@alexkuhn5188]

Aspect Science I read that quote and burst out laughing because I would love to see the face of the person who he said that too!

[@navarxos86]

Actually the first to say it is anonymous, but it is still a great phrase (quoteinvestigator.com/2018/04/03/diplomat/)

[@TommoCarroll]

alex kuhn hahaha so true! I really hope to use this line one day haha! Who would you use it on?

[@pulaski1]

The posting of this video on September 28 was stunningly, if not shockingly prescient with the "disappearance" of Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi just four days later during a visit to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul.

[@gslim7337]

@LtCol Pulaski. Good point. I wonder what the case will be. Turkey has asked for the men that were sent, to be sent back to Turkey for trial. It sounds like Saudi Arabia will have them on trial instead.

[@pulaski1]

@G Slim - I doubt there'll be much point to a trial in Turkey by the time the Saudis have, er, carried out the punishment that they're going to be sentenced to! :-/

[@TheDrexxus]

Diplomatic immunity works like this: Imagine you are the parent of a handful of kids. Your boss at work, who you are not close with at all and maintain an arm's length relationship, finds out one day that you have these kids and says they have one around the same age and wants them to play together. So they give you their kid to look after for a weekend. While that kid is there, as long as they don't do anything SUPER major, you're probably going to let them get away with a lot of stuff you wouldn't let your own kids get away with. One reason being they don't have the same rules in their house as you do in yours and another being that if you start punishing that kid and upsetting them, they're going to go cry to their daddy and then their daddy is going to bitch you out and cause issues in your work life. The boss's kid basically has diplomatic immunity. You let them get away with more shit because you don't want to deal with the drama of daddy being mad at you and all the consequences of that.

[@tonyf.9806]

They can't be arrested, doesn't mean the ordinary citizen can't defend themselves and put two in the head of those committing the heinous crimes of drug dealing, drunk driving + running someone over, outright murder, etc. That's why all citizens should be armed. Much harder to become a victim when the perpetrator could wind up dead in a second.

[@paulorocky]

I remember visiting Canberra (Australia's national capital) when I was younger. It was astonishing to see disability parking spots all filled with diplomatic cars. Makes you feel for any locals who actually have disabilities and can't park outside the shops.

[@chrischandler889]

There was that one diplomat that was accused of rape and nothing happened to him. Edit: i just looked up "diplomat accused of rape" and holy shit. Multiple issues. In Los Angeles, the UK, India, and more...

[@lejink]

I’m reminded of a video of a Qatari guy driving a LaFerrari in Beverly Hills Racing someone else, blowing through stop signs, driving like a maniac in a residential neighbourhood, crashed his car in someone’s front yard Told a guy he could have anyone killed because he claimed he had diplomatic immunity, flicked a cigarette in his face then left the scene Took a flight home, left his car there, no punishment

[@JootjeJ]

When I was young in The Hague, which is one of the ultimate diplomatic cities, it used to be common knowledge that if you were run off your bike by a car with a diplomatic licence plate the police wouldn't even take your statement. The joke want that the CD (Corps Diplomatique) in the license plate stood for Coureur Dangereux (dangerous driver) or Cont Diplomée (certified a**hole)

[@penzlic]

In 2010 Croatian ambassador smuggled spirits, vines and other alcohol drinks in Gadaffi's Libya. 1500 liters of it to be precise

[@hackman669]

I wonder if a diplomat uses his bag trip to smuggle weapons, nukes, etc if he would get away with it if the storage container were properly marked?

[@oligarchytheatre777]

I enjoy your straight forward way and even comedy of delivery and the info as well... Sometimes I put your info up against my info and verify the two as to the realities of them within the real worlds of life situations... You stand up very well Sir with many things, and thus, this is why I appreciate you... ;-D

[@PtolemyJones]

There was a pretty decent TV cop show called Hunter, which might have been the first time I ever heard the term Diplomatic Immunity. There was some central American guy who raped Hunter's female partner, and got away. Mind you, a while later, Hunter took some vacation, vanished from the country, and returned after that guy had been murdered in his home country. Pretty cathartic, I must say.

[@priitmolder6475]

"Diplomatic immuniteeeeeeee" *gets shot in the head* "Its just been revoked"

[@vampiro4236]

I was literally thinking of the same scene 🤣

[@Rgsetters]

In 2019 an Americans diplomats wife hit and killed Harry Dunn whilst driving on the wrong side of the road. So far the USA have not waived her diplomatic immunity and she fled the country.

[@UberTankred]

The US government is the scum of the Earth.

[@Elliandr]

Out of curiosity, what would stop a group of ambassadors from abusing this from trying to smuggle a large number of nuclear bombs into a country and setting them off simultaneously prior to a declaration of war? It sounds like that would be easy to do.

[@AcidDaBomb]

In a past life I had diplomatic immunity (cause of my job at the time) and a co-worker of mine had it as well. He was drinking and driving and killed a girl. He was going get in trouble, but then a deal was made he makes a settlement with the girls family if they agree awesome if not they pull his immunity and and off to jail he goes. He paid a lot of money, and was let go.

[@Tote_Mich]

They can’t be made to pay taxes yet someone figured out how to do tax evasion

[@TealWolf26]

Cyrodiilic Empire Checkpoint Officer: "Hey there. Looks like you, um, got some people in the cage in the back of your cart. You got a permit or an arrest warrant or something? What's up with that?" Thalmor Envoy: "That's my diplomatic bag." Empire Officer: "Oh ok. Um, well, carry on then."

[@admiralthrawn7754]

Who is here because of the American Diplomat's wife who escape murder? Time to see the real consequences of this video's decision... 2:58 - "diplomatic immunity does not extend to their families?" I guess either this is untrue or our American wife will get her immunity waived.

[@admiralthrawn7754]

From the analysis of this video, it appears this murdering wife will be facing time in prison.

[@elweasel2010]

Watch the video again, Functional Immunity covers the job only and not the family nor when not "on the job". Previously stated Blanket immunity for higher ranking diplomats does cover the family.

[@eamo2334]

Me. It's terrible.

[@WoodynVA]

Simon Whistler - what is your opinion on the case of the wife of an American diplomate who fatally hit a teenager riding his bike while she driving on the wrong side of the side of the road.

[@armorbearer9702]

(1:34) Alternatively, a country can charge diplomats with a law that is rarely enforced. They say in the United States that you break the law everyday because there are so many regulations and laws. I do not know about other countries, but I bet they have a lot of obscure laws as well.

[@kinsley2108]

Was about to yell at you for having muffled audio. Then I found out my bass boost as turned up... Good show ol chap.

[@mattbarnes3467]

Simon, you're clearly more mature than me. If I were to make this video, the Lethal Weapon 2 " dip-lometic immunitay" would have been screened somewhere within the video.

[@DoctorsSong]

So why even write the tickets? The cost and time of writing pointless tickets could be saved if they didn't issue them.

[@cherylsims5636]

Theres a Topic for another video you guys! Criminal Acts and Extradition Treaty

[@KuddlesbergTheFirst]

Some are assassinated, most would die of painful strokes for some reason?

[@nixith_]

What is the process of patching legal loopholes?

[@will2Collett]

thank you for this posting.

[@THEDGECRUSHER]

Quite the time this video came out. Issue in Turkey currently might invoke this

[@Turinnn1]

Russia: You don't punish our diplomats. We: So they get off without punishment? Russia: No.

[@thomaspriddy6524]

I wonder what would happen if a regular citizen defended himself from a diplomat?

[@hodgknob3545]

Diplomatic Immunity should *NOT* protect a child predator

[@bluelionsage99]

Diplomatic immunity doesn't apply to espionage usually (which are not "local laws" in most cases).

[@mattpytlak]

David Wainio it absolutely does. That’s why must intelligence agents are given covers as members of a diplomatic mission.

[@cjamthepatricianakabilldoo7852]

Lethal weapon references much

[@DANtheMANofSIPA]

Alls I know Is your diplomatic immunity has just been revoked

[@joeydubbs763]

I'm a diplomat, I have immunity...next...

[@gregoryashton]

Well as the news today shows; even a spouse of a US Diplomat, driving out of RAF Croughton, can indeed “get away with murder”. She has now fled the UK leaving a British family devastated after she drove into their 19 year old son on his motorbike, killing him.

[@conorfennell8475]

Than they ambushed his parents in the White House to force and stage forgiveness.

[@tunit20]

Correction, a high ranking CIA agent

[@wwerules000]

This is the problem with this, in theory she should be charged but the real question is in what country, it should be in the USA but she might not get a murder charge, accidentally killing someone is a lower sentence, they could of talked to her, it was up to them, they should of known she was there before hand though

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

That woman did not have diplomatic immunity! Had she actually had it, the host country definitely would have had record of it, and she would have had no need to leave the country the way she did. Whoever authorised and helped her to leave the country in such a shady way is the real villain and should be punished too.

[@brianmartin3425]

I feel so sorry for his parents, they seem so nice aswell. Makes me upset thinking about it and honestly I don’t normally get upset.

[@bullie86]

I live near an international elementary school in the Netherlands, and every diplomatic car I see there is just dumped on the street with zero respect for the local parking laws. Also a Dutch reporter was punched in the face by some diplomat or his bodyguard, when asking questions about the parking behavior near an embassy. So yeah, I don’t particularly like them.

[@sparkplug1018]

Just walk down the street scratching every single car. Oops! Didn't realize I had my keys out!

[@dominicguye8058]

Sounds like the Wild West.

[@Carewolf]

I saw a car with diplomatic license plates refuse to let an ambulance with full sirene pass. Just blocking the ambulanc's way to the hospital. The car in question was from the US embassay btw. The diplomatic license plates in Denmark have a system so you can tell what country they are from if you know what ranges they are given.

[@apaijmans]

@lcyw20 Grace also had a cat fight with a South African model and got away with it. However Norh Korean diplomats have been smuggling for the state and did get caught and prosecuted so you are not always getting away with diplomatic immunity when you are from a paria state.

[@jon9103]

@@sparkplug1018 do that and you probably get arrested or at least owe a hefty fine and bill unless you also happen to be diplomat.

[@julienl9821]

Never rent to a diplomat. If they stop paying rent, you'll never get the money back.

[@mojothepain4087]

Not really.you don't rent a house to a diplomat.what happens is that you rent to their embassy.the embassy will approach you and do a contract.

[@julienl9821]

And when the embassy stops paying rent, you're still screwed. ;-( kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmexiIuZlKunpq8

[@andrecarpy6890]

@@mojothepain4087 not really, the diplomat makes the contract himself with his or her name on that contract.

[@TheJamesRG]

I don't speak surrender, is there a version of this in English?

[@thomasconrow5980]

Get what money back? It's rent, you never have it until it's paid. LOL

[@CroomTM]

I would use a diplomatic bag to smuggle kinder eggs, since they're banned in the US

[@smurfpoppin4470]

Actually legal for I think a year now

[@khartog01]

They were recently made legal.

[@filadelfozuniga3411]

You monster

[@hamsterama]

khartog01 Really, "regular" Kinder eggs are legal now in the US? Cool! I haven't seen them in stores, yet, though. All I see are the "Americanized" Kinder eggs, with the toy and the chocolate in separately sealed halves. Not that I'm complaining, though. Even the Americanized version is delicious.

[@khartog01]

I'll I have seen is a chocolate treat with a toy in it. If there's difference in the ones sold elsewhere, hooray for those countries. I got a Batman toy from one. It's awesome.

[@turbomanmechachrist]

The Swedish King has immunity, so when he's being stopped by the police for speeding (Many times, yes, this is a real thing). They have to let him go.

[@americanpanzer4163]

Seems like no no no definitely something that I would do if I were King

[@jeffreyskoritowski4114]

The Queen of England has this privilege as well.

[@pieterveenders9793]

Most if not all the monarchs have that unfortunately...

[@flyguncz9437]

@@jeffreyskoritowski4114 not worldwide see the map.

[@flyguncz9437]

@@jeffreyskoritowski4114 enter on google where english qeen have immunity

[@JeremyWS]

So, in short … the answer is … :: Yes/No kind of maybe sorta.

[@a_perdomo]

Isn’t it always

[@timf7413]

I'd say it's more like the answer is yes but that doesn't necessarily mean diplomats can break the law at will without any consequence.

[@kevinskipp2762]

Answer is yes but most countries will waive it for genuine serious crimes that the nation state wasn't involved in themselves. Remember reading about some young man/teen who'd got it into his head that his father, who worked at their embassy, had diplomatic immunity and that therefore he did too. He went out and raped a woman in London. Their embassy waived it while investigating whether he had it at all...and then found his dad was just a cleaner and not diplomatic staff at all, so he had never been entitled to it. But point was they'd given the police the go ahead even before they'd checked who exactly he was. Nice insight into how dangerous some people can become if they think there's no consequences.

[@macsnafu]

"I assure you, that shipping container has only diplomatic papers. A LOT of papers."

[@IETCHX69]

Gotcha winkwink

[@joshp4582]

They use shipping containers marked as containing sensitive art to human traffick and smuggle shit into the country as well. they can't legally open containers marked as such thanks to some incredibly obviously manufactured loopholes in the law.

[@geminirising1]

“Salute “ 🤣

[@isiahrodriguez64]

ah yes, my concise 5 billion page report I wrote last night.

[@davidkennedy1077]

The worst example of a diplomat getting away with murder was the shooting of Yvonne Fletcher, a policewoman in London in 1984. Shots were fired from the windows of the Libyan embassy at demonstrators protesting about Gaddafi, hitting protesters and mortally wounding Yvonne. The police surrounded the embassy but couldn't storm the building for diplomatic reasons and it resulted in a siege but no convictions.

[@davidkennedy1077]

@Stephen Hill it's by far the biggest example I've ever known about. I assumed that it would be the final example Simon would mention but it was a kidnapping (granted it's a very interesting story that I'd never heard about before) I'm old enough to remember seeing the Yvonne Fletcher murder on the TV and in the papers, seeing the picture of her hat laying in the road (and i was only 10 years old at the time) A very sad incident, and I'm sure infuriating for her colleagues who had to watch the Libyans file out knowing the murderer was one of them and nothing could be done. There's a really good documentary that covers what happened that day that I highly recommend.

[@kevinjohnson1139]

*David Kennedy* Britain got their revenge in 2011.

[@homefront3162]

David Kennedy UK Police are pussies

[@davidkennedy1077]

@@kevinjohnson1139 yeah, shame it took so long though.

[@davidkennedy1077]

@@homefront3162 it wouldn't have matter what country it happened in as it's Diplomatic Immunity (which is what this whole vid is about. If you class a countries police force as 'pussies' because we don't have weekly shootings of unarmed minorities, then I'm glad they are. Just for your information (I'm guessing you're American) we do have armed branches of the police force that have had to shoot to kill, it's just over here it's not for a traffic stop or because of the colour of a person's skin.

[@shadymerchant1198]

There really should be some international court that prosecutes crimes committed by diplomats paneled by nations with no investment in a particular case

[@sl-nj5ry]

Why? How can you not see that fast becoming corrupt? My country do your country a favour and we will pay you back. Wink wink.

[@Jackboy019]

Simon Lundblad Roth Not anymore corrupt than diplomatic immunity.

[@amedicabg]

Find a single nation not invested in another one; either directly or by proxy

[@arthurfisher1857]

This is so cute and naive

[@Cooltodd]

I don't know why you think that countries would just band together to make an international court

[@GoatTheGoat]

3:00 "Smuggling drugs, attempting to kill police offers nearing retirement, and drowning their own personal secretaries when they became a little too close to an officer." Believe it or not, but back in the late 80's I saw a documentary where a diplomat from South Africa did all three of those crimes!

[@khartog01]

Art imitates life.

[@cougarhunter33]

Yeah it didn't end up too good for that guy.

[@brentgranger7856]

Was his name Arjin Rudd? If so, you're talking about "Lethal Weapon 2."

[@jeffreywilliams13]

Back in March 1982 the South African High Commission in London assisted two of their intelligence people to bomb the ANC shop in Islington, north London. MI5 had evidence about the two suspects and could have arrested them at the airport, but either bungled it or were overruled from above (Margaret Thatcher) not to peruse the perpetrators. This is on top of smuggling weapons to the IRA and running drug to help finance the failing apartheid regime. Now makes you wonder how much of the film Lethal Weapon 2 was based on fact and fiction.

[@irrelevant_noob]

@Ryan *3:08 *personal *a *little too close

[@RoadTripRuss]

I've seen a car with diplomat plates on driving like he was in "Grand Theft Auto" once! Yikes!

[@jacobishii6121]

My wife was rear ended and her car totalled at a standing red light.Car hit her at high speed without hitting the brakes. Guy gets out and starts yelling at her,cop shows up and he goes from perfect English to not understanding English and produces a diplomatic identification.The cop had to let him go and my wifes car was totaled and the middle eastern diplomat was never held responsible.He never provided insurance or payment for the damage or medical bills.

[@peterf.229]

moral of the story? don't get rearended by a diplomat, also if your wife has insurance it would have paid so i dont see what you are whining about..

[@jacobishii6121]

@@peterf.229 actually no,the insurance didn't cover it because "diplomatic immunity" negates the crime......it's his insurance that should cover it for it one and obviously you are ignorant as fuck or you would know it's not covered. Not now or in 1970s Los Angeles when it happened and laws aren't different now....not whining,it's just truth.

[@DoomFinger511]

@@jacobishii6121 If you don't want to deal with trolls don't post on public internet forums.

[@TheBoss-jf6de]

Peter F. You’re an ass clown, Peter. Diplomatic immunity negates any culpability on the offender’s side- leaving the victim left to foot the bill. The fact that you barked that “his wife’s insurance would pay for it anyway”... only proves that you’re about as naive you sound. If her insurance is forced to cover the damage, not only will she be liable for the $500-$3,000 deductible (upfront), but her premiums will also increase for a minimum of three to five years. So, your comment is worthless. In fact, every time you open your mouth, you show your ignorance.

[@That_Tunafish_Guy]

@@TheBoss-jf6de how did you know his mouth was open as he was TYPING a comment.....stalker😒

[@davidcardoso826]

Recently in Portugal the sons of an Iraquian Diplomate ran over and beat a teenager to a pulp and absolutly nothing happened to them. They were put on a plane and went back to their rich life.

[@dave8599]

Id murder the iraqi ambassador in exchange. Call it an act of war. No geneva convention rules for me, to hell with the rulers!

[@artmanrom]

:) So in layman terms being high ranked a diplomat means to have "license to kill" like James Bond.

[@mavos1211]

Diplomats aside, if the queen were to kill someone what would happen?

[@iatsd]

mavos1211 As head of state she has sovereign immunity. Quite literally.

[@TheMankind02]

Then they freaking deserved it. The queen of England is a badass.

[@NikkiMKarLen]

She would level up.

[@nerdlingeeksly5192]

She would go unpunished because she is the queen and her word is law if she says she's not going to jail then she's not going to jail although that won't stop the public from scolding her or even revolting against her

[@mavos1211]

Dustin Yeary haha I completely agree!

[@cadelaide]

When I lived in Geneva my Swiss wife told me always stay well clear of any UN or foreign diplomats car for good reasons

[@gorkskoal9315]

Yeah i lived in San Francisco for a hot minute the consulate and diplomat drivers were, bluntly, assholes. Fortunately one of the areas top chiefs of police had enough their shit and told them to take it up with a consolates office for any complaints about following local laws. It was amazing how fast they stoped acting like bullies. They got flagrant as fuck to. Some thai diplomats were high as fuck on opium they were spoking at a coffee restaurant and cause a horrendous multicar pileup. Or their was the time a Chinese diplomat was just a straitup up cunt. they reminded them they aren't any obligation to protect them from Karma, that if they cut through a a rough area, they might "just happen" to be on another call. It didn't take long for them to cut that shit out. I don't know to what country. But their was some diplomat that went through oaklands roughest hood, and after running redlights being generally shitty people. Some locals stripped their care while they were eating. Police "accidentally" lost that report.

[@tjabdullahi710]

Perhaps my favorite video from Simon Whistler (forgive me if I spelled your name wrong). I've had Diplomatic Immunity most of my life from my Dad and I was never able to get a straight answer as to why Diplomats get immunity. Your first point about guarding against coercion from host governments make so much sense. Thank you!!!

[@alejandrocobarrubias8457]

YOU MAKE ME SMARTER EVERY TIME YOU POST !

[@TommoCarroll]

That is *literally* the holy grail of us Educational KZbinrs! I hope I do the same because you're so right - I've learnt so much from Simon (and his incredible team!)

[@alejandrocobarrubias8457]

Aspect Science, subscribed

[@TommoCarroll]

Alejandro Cobarrubias Oh wow, thanks so much Alejandro! I'm actually stoked someone from Today I Found Out liked my content! Thanks a lot!!!

[@Zeldarw104]

@@alejandrocobarrubias8457 👍👌👏👏👏👏👏☺

[@XenoTravis]

smarter every day is another channel but close enough looollzz

[@greysonmiller9407]

"Diplomatic Immunity" Costs 1 Blue mana and one mana of any color It is an enchantment that says "Enchanted creature cannot be the target of spells or abilities" and "Diplomatic Immunity cannot be the target of spells or abilities"

[@zacharybohlman4069]

Unexpected MTG

[@liquidminds]

Actually, I think "smuggling drugs" is one of the main crimes commited by diplomats. I mean.. drugs are used throughout society in almost every country of the world in some way or another. Anyone with money and opportunity is smuggling his drugs wherever he wants. It's probably close in the area of people moving their money away from taxation. People who can do it, do it.

[@onesong2001]

theres things far more valuable than drugs, besides, military is the top smuggler of drugs.

[@jacobraposo730]

So my question in all of this is what happened to those engineers, are they still still serving their sentences? It's ridiculous how two innocent people can be thrown in jail just because somebody got kidnapped. It's a shame Britain can't do anything to free those engineers, they weren't the ones committing crimes.

[@kindlin]

I know! It's ridiculous. I wanted to hear some more about that, but it seems that bam, 14y sentence it is. Really harsh, unwarranted. Nigeria should have realized that Britain had no choice but to arrest the hostage takers, this is a serious crime taken further than any of the law makers probably envisioned.

[@xzonia1]

The two engineers, Mr. Angus Paterson, who lives in Inverurie, and Mr. Kenneth Clarke, who lives in Blackburn. were freed three years later. their names: api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1985/feb/27/british-engineers-nigeria when released: www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/umaru-dikko-politician-who-was-kidnapped-by-agents-of-the-nigerian-government-then-discovered-in-a-9580261.html

[@jacobraposo730]

@@xzonia1 thank you so much

[@xzonia1]

lNonstop Gamerl No problem :)

[@pigeon7777]

xzonia1 thank you! I was so worried and couldn't find anything online

[@kinyutaka]

Couldn't a corrupt country make themselves look less corrupt by paying their parking tickets?

[@skip1383]

They probably can't afford it

[@jeffreywilliams13]

OK, tell the Americans to pay all their parking fines in London.

[@robertharris6092]

@@jeffreywilliams13 the point is they could do it as a PR stunt.

[@SuperPope69]

@@jeffreywilliams13 he didn't say parking fines. Their fines are from shutting down road ways for armored motorcades to travel from the embassy throughout London. It's a process done in the stated very regularly for extra security, as well as something the Londom police help set up for them as well. The United States are also very accommodating to UK representatives as well.

[@jeffreywilliams13]

@@SuperPope69 It is important to first know what you are talking about here, and second if you are going to make bold statements about something at least make sure you have actually visited the country in question - which in your case clearly you have not. In London it is not possible to shut down roads for exclusive access, no matter how much you offer to pay. Even filming in London, you can only buy a permit to close a specific street at set times, subject to on-going traffic conditions. The idea that you close down whole parts of London to allow, the US, Chinese or Russia President to run their motorcade through London securely is nonsense. Not even the Queen of England could or would do this. London is only a small city and even during the Olympic 2012, with the eyes of the world on London this did not happen, although there were some bus lanes that were converted as Olympic lanes. Given the US Ambassador lives in North London (Regents Park) and with the US Embassy in Nine Elms I would love to see them attempting to shut down the road network to accommodate the US President, there would be a riot in the streets. Hands up I stand corrected, yes the money the US owes is for Congestion charges, and not parking, in the region of £12 million ($15.6 million)

[@LucDesormeaux]

Is it just me or there is an editing problem between 12:00 and 12:45. He repeats pretty much the same thing twice? The part about putting someone in a crate.

[@hennigloo]

It's definitely not just you

[@Vanilla0729]

I was about to say just that

[@renewright479]

You got stuck on that huh?

[@MarcoTedaldi]

Probably a glitch in the matrix! Watch out!

[@grandinosour]

This is just a test to see if you are paying attention

[@christinebrown3359]

They would have gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling cops

[@trelkel3805]

It really is "Don't shoot the messenger" but sometimes the messenger actually did it.

[@ricksnyder9244]

The first thing I thought of was the end of Lethal Weapon 2. "Diplomatic immunity revoked"

[@iammaxhailme]

My dad was an NYPD cop and he has told me a story about being some minor Iranian diplomat's bodyguard in the late 1980s, and having to interfere (re: stop) his arrest when he was caught soliciting a prostitute

[@casablancavic]

why even bother to arrest anybody for trying to get a hooker? it's such a waste of time on a stupid charge and nonsnse crime

[@junoguten]

Tbh if I was the dictator of some country, even a really anti-prostitution one, I think I'd just allow the diplomats to secretly bring a hooker as staff so they don't end up getting into trouble / bad PR / some kinda blackmail scheme in the country they're going to.

[@sim.frischh9781]

Ever since i watched Lethal Weapons 2 i was wondering how much abuse Diplomatic Immunity actually faces. According what you said, Simon, it´s less that i though, yet still more than is good.

[@iron60bitch62]

I worked in United Nations for 15 years the shit that went on inside the building alone would make you tremble

[@ariaalexandria3324]

Please make some videos or something. I'd watch them!

[@Not.Your.Business]

Ron Hahahaha, don't just leave us hanging... we want juicy details!

[@iron60bitch62]

Andrei Macaria a cook from Germany stabbed a buss boy from Mexico they were both sent home to their respective countries no charges were filed and everybody came back 6 months later

[@iron60bitch62]

Andrei Macaria People used to have sex all the building on the roof in the garden in the dining room

[@Not.Your.Business]

Ron Hahahaha, thx for letting us know! the second one (unusual as it may be) I wouldn't categorize as something to make me tremble :)

[@JohannGambolputty22]

Let’s face it. You’re here because of Lethal Weapon 2.

[@flufffycow]

I can't disagree with that.

[@SunG-f7i]

Bulshit! It's totally secrets on my Way of design!! I did gad present anything yet! They lie amd are crimes netweork from Hamdan bin rashid almaktoum and rhe thief aboutaleb an murder!!!

[@mordsythe]

An American diplomats wife killed a 19 year old kid in the UK when she drank drive. The USA got her out of the country in the same day. Then refused to extradite her to face the punishment.

[@oengusfearghas9608]

Oh look, this illegally parked car has accrued a significant number of parking violations. Well we'll just impound it then.

[@Tishers]

Exactly, impound it and haul it directly back to a car-crusher.. When it is all packed up in to a little cube made of metal and plastic, then slap a label on it that says "diplomatic pouch" and drop it off in front of the embassy.

[@adriaandeleeuw8339]

Technically an act of War, at the very least have to pay for a replacement vehicle, could also see the person attempting to tow the vehicle SHOT and also the person towing prosecuted for interfering with a diplomat, which is also a serious crime Federal Crime, considering that most traffic matters are local misdemeanors not a real clever thing to do especially if wearing Diplomatic plates!

[@killercaos123]

This was a super interesting video. Wow.

[@impicker3027]

I used to work for airport security at Chicago's O'Hare airport. A diplomatic pouch is required to have paperwork and courier is required to carry the bag at all times. one time a security personnel conducted an explosive trace test on the external side of the pouch. The security personnel was severely reprimanded.

[@GerardKean]

I have a question after watching American TV. When someone is sentenced to life in prison without parole, how long to they typically live and do they actually die in prison?

[@human_bot_]

When I was younger I lived outside of Washington DC and one of my best friends father was a diplomat from Turkey and his uncle diplomat staff. When my buddy got his license he never worried about tickets and his driving was proof of it. I enjoyed and despised riding with him

[@mato1943]

US embasy in slovakia put a fence in a historic city center after few years rental contract run out but fence stayed for 3 years that fence was there illegaly as illegal building just couple of monts they again agreed with the city on a new hefty rental contract

[@SverreMunthe]

When I did my military service, at a Nike battery outside Oslo, in 1979, we were told to beat the living shit out of anyone lurking around outside the fence as fast as possible, since if they got time to get out their diplomatic passport we weren’t allowed to touch them. 😂

[@rhodesianwojak2095]

wew

[@CallioNyx]

In those days, most of the Russian embassy's staff (and Lada importers) were KGB. Our house was watched by the PST because the Soviets had marked it for death squads. Good times, good times....

[@jaakkooksa5374]

Diplomatic immunity is originally based on customary internal law, i.e. on the principle that a visiting sovereign and his/her representatives were untouchable. Later this principle was codified into "written" international law by the Vienna convention. With civilized countries, if their diplomat commits a serious crime abroad, they prosecute them themselves. Of course not all countries are civilized.

[@johnhumphrey9953]

in other words, God Immunity, for only God may judge the Sovereign. as long as the government derives its authority from God the government shall remain sovereign. sovereign law states that the sovereign may only be judged by God, the source of the sovereign's authority.

[@jamierfarley]

Some lad was killed by an American diplomats wife. She was driving on the wrong side of the road and collided with a boy who was on a motorbike. She was leaving an American air base and she ran home to America. The family are proper pushing to have her convicted!

[@escott1981]

So they can get away with murder in order to prevent them from being framed for murder. Doesn't make any sense to me and sounds like it causes far more problems than it prevents, but what the hell do I know?

[@RandomPerson-yq1qk]

Without diplomatic immunity many authoritarian regimes could simply charge any diplomat for murder, arrest them, torture them for information and even execute him. You have no legal argument to stop them because they "apparently" murdered and the police has "evidence" and probably some "witnesses". The punishment for such a crime in NK may be death and torturing may be a legal technique in NK. Also countries could simply take diplomats hostage that way for political effect.

[@wolfco47]

Well, it sounds like instead of issuing tickets to diplomats, they should apply boots instead. The diplomat or underlying car owner will most likely pay to have a boot removed or to prevent the car from being impounded. Either way, the improperly parked car owner would be forced to pay someone for some service. That makes more sense that just having astronomical unpaid debts float between countries. I would hope that governments or government employees would make enough and be willing to fork over money under those conditions. Presumably, they would want their cars back. And, if not the cars could always be auctioned off to recoup some of the unpaid fees.

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

Presumably, the cars may be difficult to auction off since they are registered in different countries, and my best guess for not booting or impounding a vehicle would be for the same reasons they have immunity in the first place. If the cars are "officially" owned by the country, then that only complicates things as they are possibly considered foreign soil. There is no practical benefit to anyone involved by doing this. No judge would be allowed to sign off on auctioning off property of a protected diplomat, if it somehow slipped through the cracks and made it that far. I guarantee that booting a car would only happen once. There would be several feds contacting or straight up visiting the highest ranking figure in the department within the hour.

[@dannydaw59]

The pissed off diplomat could just go to the city parking dept. and say "Hey dude I'm a diplomat you can't boot my vehicle. Remove it immediately." and they would have to. I bet they have diplomat stickers on the car's window anyways maybe a special license plate.

[@GigawingsVideo]

dannydaw59 Sure they can do that but at least the city already inconvenience them. Imagine getting booted every week and they have to spend time just to go the dept just to unboot the car(s). Giving them enough headache and they going to straighten their act.

[@rlosable]

they have special license plates and the police is not allowed to detain them. Would assume it covers their diplomatic vehicles as well

[@MyFavorit3Vido3s]

While riding with a police officer, he told me a story that he once saw a car parked illegally, ran the numbers and turned out it was a diplomat car with a bunch of tickets and decided to have it towed (New York). When said diplomat confronted him, he told him he wasn't ticketed him, but the car. The car was towed and the country didn't pay the tickets because it was more than it was worth. Apparently the mayor actually congratulated him on it.

[@daspolemon]

Can the entire cargo hold of a plane or a ship be also labeled a "Diplomatic bag"? Or perhaps the entire ship or plane?

[@josephfilomena4786]

And that kids, is why drug-dealing and addiction isn't going anywhere.

[@joshp4582]

@@josephfilomena4786 Don't forget human sex trafficking, slavery and people being trafficked for human sacrifice in occult rituals.

[@joshp4582]

@@josephfilomena4786 anywhere from 21-46 million people at least 5 million of which are estimated to be children are suspected to be enslaved across the world, such a large number could only be possible with people at the highest level of government signing off on it.

[@junoguten]

Can California be labelled diplomatic bag whenever it finally sinks into the ocean?

[@Cheepchipsable]

To be realistic, do you really think a diplomat from another country would only have a handful of papers that relate to the running of a country to transport with him? Few enough that he could personally carry them.

[@thewinspear7325]

It's just been revoked.

[@viscache1]

I’ve travelled in countries where the USA (my citizenship) made it clear to me that if I broke even the smallest law that the USA would not make any attempt to offer any aid whatever. It behooved me to study up on the important local laws that might attract the attention of LLEO’s.

[@albertnielsen1154]

The answer is YES! in the late 1970s during a demonstration in front of the Iranian embassy in London, a member of the Iranian staff fired a submachine gun at the demonstrators and killed a policewoman. He got away scot free.

[@joshuapatrick682]

I believe I have heard of this, I think it’s called wealth and fame....

[@HisShadowX]

Oh dare anyone question the chosen race and it’s country Israel 🇮🇱

[@fabiogaucho77]

2:34 "only relatively higher ranking officials enjoy such blanket immunity" Well, not really. If you have diplomatic status in your embassy, you are fully covered by DI even if you are an entry level diplomat (in most countries, a third secretary). It is support and administrative staff that perform non-diplomatic duties that may enjoy the limited immunity, but I see often them having full immunity too.

[@julianmhall]

Diplomatic Immunity means, to be frank, what the diplomat's country wants it to mean. For example the diplomat whose spouse allegedly killed a UK citizen by dangerous driving. The spouse was returned to the parent country and the UK police not even allowed to interview the suspect. In that instance diplomatic immunity was extended to the diplomat's family beyond the diplomat themself.

[@williamlee7672]

I am fine with diplomatic immunity for small things like traffic fines etc. But when it comes to murder or drugs etc etc. This type of immunity should be null and void. What a load of BS with politicians protecting themselves in the Vienna Convention. Imagine the public could vote instead. I am betting this act would not even come close to passing.

[@y.z.6517]

Voting? You kidding me? Just look at the wrong-doings American politicians can legally get away with.

[@robertdegroot8302]

I understand your point, but the unwanted consequence would be that a country like Iran could simply start accusing diplomats from any country of having commited murder and stop them from doing their work. Not always is this work important, but of course they would aim at the ones that do. I would actually make an exception for parking and speeding tickets, but not murder. Besides, if a diplomat actually commits a murder, he can still be classified as non grata and the home country will be under huge pressure to try the criminal. Just imagine what a blow it is to a country´s reputation if it let one its own diplomats get away with a proven murder in a foreign country!

[@yoppindia]

What if he was framed? likely to happen if the country is not in good terms with host country.

[@y.z.6517]

@Robert De Groot More likely than not, serious crimes like murder are ordered by the home country. It is distinctly likely that the home country would simply deny the crime, and accusing the host country of framing. Alternatively, the home country may use the poor diplomat as a scape goat...

[@jkoneman]

So then every diplomat Russia wanted to torture for information would be "caught with drugs" and tortured....

[@mattiemathis9549]

I was a border patrol agent stationed on the Mexico/USA and Canadian/USA borders at various times. The abuse is real from every government I’ve dealt with, including my own.

[@FieroFats]

It's minor in the scheme of things, but I've had a Diplomat (at least the tags on the car said so.) cut me off three times in less than a mile. (He was so busy trying to get ahead that he wasn't getting anywhere.) Coming up to the tollbooth in PA he came up the breakdown lane, cut me off, then decided he wanted another lane that looked faster. After the toll booths he came back up the breakdown lane again, cut me off again, this time I switched lanes and got through before him. After he once again took the breakdown lane to manage to cut the semi off one final time. It looked like he was taking his kid to college as the Mercedes was packed. Driving like he was, I was expecting him to wreck at some point. I wasn't the only one, he was cutting off a lot of vehicles, and making friends all over the place.

[@RollingxBigshot]

Ju ju ju ju just like the bad guys, From lethal weapon 2. I got diplomatic immunity, So Hammer you can’t sue.

[@biancabrooks280]

Simon, why is the water level in my Snowglobes dropping? Are they evaporating? They aren’t cracked and leaking. What gives?!

[@ariaalexandria3324]

THIS!!!

[@unscentednapalm8547]

There will be a rubber bung or somesuch on the underside of it I'm guessing? The water will be evaporating through there, very slowly.

[@xzonia1]

and how do you get the water back inside so they're full again?? We need to know! :)

[@NoisyPlaces]

Most likely cause is a tiny pinhole in the seal, the fluid is pushed out when the globe gets warmer, and air is sucked in when it cools down. Filling back up can be as simple as removing the seal and pouring in more fluid, or as complex as immersing the whole globe under fluid in a vacuum chamber with the leak at the highest point and pulling a vacuum repeatedly so the air expands and then releasing the vacuum so fluid gets pulled back in.

[@cougarhunter33]

bung

[@ladygrace7585]

Diplomatic immunity should only apply to *really* small incidents. Something a foreigner wouldn't know. Example, forgetting it's illegal to chew gum in Singapore. It should not apply to an action that is evil in itself

[@nathanl7018]

Can't touch me Can't touch me - ju-ju-ju-ju Just like the bad guy, from Lethal Weapon 2 I've got diplomatic immunity, so Hammer you can't sue I can write graffiti, even jaywalk in the street I can riot, loot, not give a hoot And touch your sister's teat, can't touch me! STOP, Peter Time! I'm a big shot, there's no doubt Light a fire then pee it out Don't like it? Kiss my rump Just for a minute let's all do the bump Yeah, do the Peter Griffin bump, can't touch me! I'm Presidential Peter, interns think I'm hot Don't care if you're handicapped I'll still park in your spot I've been around the world, from Hartford to Back Bay It's Peter, go Peter, MC Peter, yo Peter Let's see Regis rap this way! Can't touch me

[@efstrix]

08:53 #RomaniaStyle haha, that joke killed me.

[@hunter5822]

Holy fuck I would dump so much raw sewage on a dimplomats car or convertible if they cut me off, steal my parking spot, etc and the police literally just walk away! The retribution he and subsequently his country would suffer at my hands would be inumerous!

[@pault8470]

Simple . When they become diplomats they should agree in not to break ANY law even a parking ticket and if they do it's simple . They will be stripped of their post .. Wankers

[@peterf.229]

you must be an idiot, that has never been to say, New York City.. there is no where to park anywhere , official business is more important than collecting fines for parking tickets

[@hackman669]

Solution, simply supply drivers for all diplomats to taxi them to important meetings and socials. Problem solved.

[@RobiePAX]

Never give any human power to be above the law. Because its in human nature to be corrupted by the power. Even diplomatic immunity should be much more complex than it is right now to be fair and not abusable.

[@benschuster9792]

This is particularly relevant now

[@TheSiaek]

No person should be above the law. Diplomatic immunity is abused more then people trying to blackmail said diplomat... Considering its those in power who abuse human rights all over the world.

[@hackman669]

Majority of countries that abuse power are nondemocratic. Also politicians, such as those in the US for not caring for their citizens!!!

[@derweibhai]

Sounds like street justice is appropriate in many of these cases. Why should a politician have privileges others dont.

[@tomwebb3081]

Diplomats aren't politicians.

[@exchanegedtag]

Rape, murder, and gross stuff with Minors... should not be covered by diplomatic immunity!