Russian diplomats owe New York $101 in parking fines: State Department comes up with tough punishment
'05.05.2022'
Nadezhda Verbitskaya
From 2003 to the present, 46 parking tickets have been issued against Russia (through its diplomats), according to the New York City Parking Violations Database. All of them have not been paid for at least 100 days, writes NBC New York.
At the same time, the State Department said that just three unpaid fines since 2003 could lead to the removal of the country from registration or renewal of diplomatic license plates. 46 fines to Russia is much more than the allowed minimum.
On the subject: Parking, pedestrians and bridges: what a driver needs to know in New York
Journalists this week found Russian diplomatic vehicles violating traffic rules in the city. Three Russian cars were parked on the sidewalks on East 67th Street next to the UN office, some illegally parked in other places. One Russian diplomat parked his car in the area reserved for the fire station.
The Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations did not respond to messages asking for comment.
Punishment from the State Department
As a result, the US State Department delayed more than two dozen registrations of vehicles belonging to the Russian Federation. This action will prevent Russia from renewing some of its U.S. diplomatic numbers until the overdue fines are paid.
"The State Department is suspending motor vehicle registrations or registration renewals for any diplomatic mission that accumulated three or more parking tickets in New York City that remained unpaid for more than 100 days after November 1, 2002," the State Department said in a statement. "This policy applies to every mission, including the Russian Federation."
