19 October 2010

Abused and Threatened by driver with Diplomatic Plates - Totally Bizarre

| kratz
Join the conversation
69

I’m an avid reader, but first time poster. Something strange happened today that made me want to post this message seeking help.

Today I was quietly parked in a 30 minute dropoff/pickup area adjacent to an office building in Marcus Clarke St (engine off) waiting for my wife to return from inside the building. I was there only 5 minutes when I noticed a DC plated car behind me waiting for a parking spot next to me. Next to me was a disabled spot and when the occupant exited the DC car must have realised he couldn’t park there himself. At this time there was another car waiting behind the DC car and this was a single lane area, so DC would need to leave the area. Instead, the DC driver reversed a little almost hitting the car behind him and then began shouting at me to leave my spot immediately or he will call the police. Truly bizarre!

I got out of the car to ask him what he wanted and who he was. He was shouting abuse and telling me I need to leave the parking spot right now or he will call the police. I was shocked as anyone would be and asked him who he was (stupidly thinking it may be someone of authority), he replied “I am a Diplomatic staff member” amongst other things, appearing to pull rank on me, as if I was just another Joe Citizen from Australia. Out of fear for my safety I left the parking spot and let him park there not really knowing what to make of the whole situation. Was he on drugs or is this how some diplomats treat citizens of their host country?

I want to make a complaint but don’t know where to start? How do I know which embassy he belonged to, is there a list of DC number ranges somewhere? I can’t find it anywhere.

I know the first 2 digits designate the mission and the last 2 digits the driver.

Does anyone know which country “DC 15” vehicles belong to? I am ready to lodge a formal complaint with someone!

Join the conversation

69
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

“Out of fear for my safety ”
Funny, but if it happened to me the DC car would have been leaving the carpark feeling the same way if he presented me with such rudeness and threatening behaviour.

Or I would have asked him to contact the Police and, in the interim, I would give DFAT a tinkle on my mobile whilst remaining in situ.

This list is old.

24 Aust
25 Cana
26 Fran
27 Iraq
28 Holy
29 Laos
31 Belg
32 Cypr
33 PNG
34 Jord
35 Viet
36 Chin
37 Yugo
38 Thai
39 Ital
40 Maur
41 Germ
42 Russ
43 Indo
44 Bang
45 Malt
46 Isra
47 Leba
48 Swit
49 USA
50 USA
51 Nige
52 Liby
53 Arge
54 Braz
55 Urug
56 Vene
57 Port
58 Hung
59 Peru
60 Mala
61 Phil
62 UAE
63 S.Kor
64 Ugan
65 Japa
66 Neth
67 Finl
68 Chil
69 Brit
70 Fiji
71 Irel
72 Mexi
73 Egyp
74 Denm
75 Indi
76 SriL
77 Ghan
78 Myan
79 Gree
80 Spai
81 Iran
82 Paki
84 Sing
85 Turk
86 Norw
87 S.Afr
88 Pola
89 N.Zea
90 Swed
91 Zamb
93 Keny
94 Zimb
96 Czec
97 Brun
99 Alge
100 IceL

p1 said :

When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of you and umption”.

– Samuel L mutha f**ker Jackson.

Let’s get Sam here – he’d straighten everybody out and make them drive in the correct lane (whichever one that might be). And if we arm him appropriately he might put some fear into those DC drivers, who mostly couldn’t drive a soapy finger up a dog’s arse.

When you make an assumption, you make an ass out of you and umption”.

– Samuel L mutha f**ker Jackson.

UrbanAdventure.org6:45 pm 20 Oct 10

motleychick said:

“Were you driving in the right lane for no reason or were you actually overtaking people?”

Who said anything about driving in the right lane? I was in the middle lane of three. I was overtaking a car in the left lane, and something was just forward of me on the right. This idiot just happened to come up behind me and start beeping. And when I did not drive like an idiot, they swerved through traffic in the right side lane, into the bus lane and then across all three lanes of traffic into the left lane.

You really should not jump to conclusions. As they said in the movies, “Assumption is the mother of all F@#-ups”.

Erg0 said :

majorLazer said :

Wikipedia says that they were all reallocated by ballot at some point, which I’d tend to believe since I saw a British car this morning with a prefix of 69.

fair enough, but alot of other countries still follow that rule ie First Come first Serve.

Chipping in

45 – Malaysian
67 – Pakistan(not sure)
75 – Indian

Also note the numbering system is based on rank(obviously) DCXX01 is always the ambassador/High Commisioners, followed by any of their personal cars, then to second in command, and goes on and on.

for DX alot of the embassies have the starting number from from the first two numbers hence the first DX69 would be DX6969 or something similar.
But regarding your situation, complain to the embassy and they will surely take disciplinary action against them. This sort of behavior is not tolerable in any emabssy and country.

swissbignose2:21 pm 20 Oct 10

I used to remember a whole bunch of these. Might not be entirely accurate.

24 – Austrians
25 – Canadians
26 – French
41 – Germans
42 – Russians
48 – Swiss
49 – Americans
50 – Americans
80 – Spanish

69 – Brits and 65 – Japanese as previously mentioned.

Davo111 said :

EDIT: Perhaps go to the police and get an AVO out against the driver. Thats the only way i can think you would get anything out of this.

These orders are made through Court and they require a more substantial reason than payback for a dispute over a parking space.

I’ve done some extensive googling, and while I am amazed at the number of web forums (fora, for the pedants out there) dedicated to number plates, I have been unable to find a list of which numbers equal which diplomatic missions.

Oops, bit late to the party with that information. At least I can verify that Wikipedia has it right about the UK number.

majorLazer said :

The DC/DX numbering system is both based on when the diplomatic mission was set up ie early missions got to choose their own number while the rest were done according to alphabetical order although there are discrepancies where a certain country request a particular code.

Wikipedia says that they were all reallocated by ballot at some point, which I’d tend to believe since I saw a British car this morning with a prefix of 69.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Hahaha yeah it does – why do you ask?

Just chalking up another point for my latest cognitive bias – that women who own black cars have the same ‘something to prove’ syndrome afflicting many 17 year old boys, and drive accordingly – aggressively, and badly.

That’s quite an assumption there. I’m actually a very good driver. It has nothing to do with the colour of my car. I drove the same when I owned a pink car, green car and sadly, a red car.

We used to have a complete list of the DC number assignments taped to the centre console of our family car. I am completely remiss as to what happened to it, as we kids used to love looking out for the blue plates and then guessing / confirming which country they were from. I think (don’t quote me though) that USA was 49 and 51.

Woody Mann-Caruso9:35 am 20 Oct 10

Hahaha yeah it does – why do you ask?

Just chalking up another point for my latest cognitive bias – that women who own black cars have the same ‘something to prove’ syndrome afflicting many 17 year old boys, and drive accordingly – aggressively, and badly.

Davo111 said :

EDIT: Perhaps go to the police and get an AVO out against the driver. Thats the only way i can think you would get anything out of this.

Probably wont work, you dont have the drivers name, just a rego plate.

It would then be up to you to prove who was driving at the time & if its a pool car then that will be more difficult than proving what football player touched up which girl in a motel room last night.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

however in a 100kmh zone it does, so woody is not strictly accurate

What part of ‘you’re permitted to drive in the right lane in a 100 zone if traffic is congested’ wasn’t strictly accurate?

Canberrans are the worst for being in the right lane just because they feel like it. You’re meant to keep left whenever possible

‘Meant to’? By whom? The law is unequivocable – 80 or less, drive where the hell you want. I don’t have to show any form of understanding whatsoever to somebody who wants to break the law by by speeding.

Seriously, what do you say when you ‘crack it’? ‘Stop driving in the right lane in an entirely lawful manner! I want to break the speed limit and you’re making it inconvenient for me to do so!” If there’s traffic, you’ve got nowhere to go. If there isn’t, just speed in the left lane. It’s not your personal lane.

(Does your vehicle happen to be black?)

Hahaha yeah it does – why do you ask?

The DC/DX numbering system is both based on when the diplomatic mission was set up ie early missions got to choose their own number while the rest were done according to alphabetical order although there are discrepancies where a certain country request a particular code. DC is for higher ranked diplomats while DX for official staff. Except for the american/LHD drivers most DC platers drive pretty decently, they too have to pass the test 😀
DFAT will be a better source of the system but just so you guys know, the number is not the same in every country.
In the US the system is CD(car diplomatic) and has different numbers to most countries here except China(superstition!)

EDIT: Perhaps go to the police and get an AVO out against the driver. Thats the only way i can think you would get anything out of this.

I cant believe you left the spot *sigh*. Should have told him to call the police, or got in your car, locked the door, called the police and said you were being harassed by someone.

Doing anything now is pointless. Dont waste your time

If it’s the part of Marcus Clarke Street that I think it, you were actually in diplomatic parking reserved for members of the Nepali embassy.

Was it this parking spot?

DC/DX are only an indication to other drivers that the driver of said plated vehicle holds a diplomatic licence, that they can’t drive for shit and that they can do absolutely whatever they want to on the road because if they get pulled over there will be no reprecussions because of their diplomatic status. They won’t even bother paying the fine.

p1 said :

According to wikipedia DC 69 = UK.

I always refer to DC plated cars as “Don’t Care” drivers.

P1 said 69…..hehehehehehehe

That is all.

The embassies employ dodgy folk to clean etc, on very low wages while they collect the dole (The Australian Government is not permitted to check up on embassy staff wages). Some staffers – particularly some of the gardeners – are paid in drugs, as some of the poorer embassies can bring hard drugs in with diplomatic immunity (and impunity) and it’s much cheaper than paying in $AUD. Australian staff are given access to DC cars to run errands.

The Traineediplomat5:38 pm 19 Oct 10

If I told you which diplomatic mission it was, I would have to kill you.

Then again I would have told the driver to suck it up and complain to the Protection, Priviliges and Immunities Section at DFAT and spend time discussing via diplomatic note how the Embassy was entitled to park there. See where that gets them.

astrojax said :

It’s perfectly legal to drive on the right in an 80 zone for no reason whatsoever. Even if it were a 100 zone,…

so the implication is it might be ‘perfectly legal’ to drive on the right ‘even if it were a 100 zone’; notwithstanding you went on to cite a specific example – is why i suggest your text isn’t ‘strictly’ accurate. breathe, woody…

What is this … I don’t even …

If you are going to pull someone up on their statements, at least quote the whole sentence, since the bits you’ve elided make it quite clear that even in a 100 zone (where the keep left rule is implicit) you can stay in the right lane if there is heavy traffic.

My advice: stop reading things with intent to find fault.

georgesgenitals4:45 pm 19 Oct 10

p1 said :

Question. How do the rules apply to the following situation.

Car A is driving in a posted 80km/h road, with two lanes in their direction of travel. There are driving in the right hand lane at exactly 70km/h.

Car B approaches from behind at exactly 80km/h. Car A & B are the only two vehicles on the road at this time. In this situation car B should:

[a] Pass on the left
[b] Slow behind car A and wait for them to politely move over allowing them to pass on the right
[c] Drive up close behind car A, honk horn, flash lights and act like a tool until car A moves over
[d] Slow and drive at 70km/h as well, ’cause speed kills.

Generally (was I driving car B), I would first do [b], followed shortly by [a], should they remain in the right lane. Is this legal? I am sure I remember reading once that passing on the left isn’t strictly legal, although I fail to see why that would be the case in such a situation.

Apologies to all for continuing the thread hijack

This exact situation is why it is considered courteous to drive in the left lane by default – it simply solves the problem before it arises.

What happens in practice is that overtaking on the left is now common.

According to wikipedia DC 69 = UK.

I always refer to DC plated cars as “Don’t Care” drivers.

Woody Mann-Caruso4:20 pm 19 Oct 10

so the implication is it might be ‘perfectly legal’ to drive on the right ‘even if it were a 100 zone’

I’m sure that is the implication if you were too stupid to see the full stop and didn’t understand what a big word like ‘even’ meant in this context.

breathe, woody…

You try it. Your brain clearly needs the oxygen if it can’t parse two sentences in a row.

Shall I start?

Here goes.

DC/DX 65=Japan

That’s one.

Punter said :

Regarding the keep left above 80 km/h rule; I love how some drivers strictly adhere to this one particular rule regardless of any consideration to other road users, but then question other rules like exceeding speed limits. The rule does say you don’t have to keep left under 80 km/h unless signposted, but it doesn’t mean you have to always keep right either. It shows it’s possile to be right and still be a jerk.

The great thing about driving 20km/h over the limit is that you’re always overtaking. 😉

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

however in a 100kmh zone it does, so woody is not strictly accurate

What part of ‘you’re permitted to drive in the right lane in a 100 zone if traffic is congested’ wasn’t strictly accurate?

Canberrans are the worst for being in the right lane just because they feel like it. You’re meant to keep left whenever possible

‘Meant to’? By whom? The law is unequivocable – 80 or less, drive where the hell you want. I don’t have to show any form of understanding whatsoever to somebody who wants to break the law by by speeding.

Seriously, what do you say when you ‘crack it’? ‘Stop driving in the right lane in an entirely lawful manner! I want to break the speed limit and you’re making it inconvenient for me to do so!” If there’s traffic, you’ve got nowhere to go. If there isn’t, just speed in the left lane. It’s not your personal lane.

(Does your vehicle happen to be black?)

Question. How do the rules apply to the following situation.

Car A is driving in a posted 80km/h road, with two lanes in their direction of travel. There are driving in the right hand lane at exactly 70km/h.

Car B approaches from behind at exactly 80km/h. Car A & B are the only two vehicles on the road at this time. In this situation car B should:

[a] Pass on the left
[b] Slow behind car A and wait for them to politely move over allowing them to pass on the right
[c] Drive up close behind car A, honk horn, flash lights and act like a tool until car A moves over
[d] Slow and drive at 70km/h as well, ’cause speed kills.

Generally (was I driving car B), I would first do [b], followed shortly by [a], should they remain in the right lane. Is this legal? I am sure I remember reading once that passing on the left isn’t strictly legal, although I fail to see why that would be the case in such a situation.

Apologies to all for continuing the thread hijack

It’s perfectly legal to drive on the right in an 80 zone for no reason whatsoever. Even if it were a 100 zone,…

so the implication is it might be ‘perfectly legal’ to drive on the right ‘even if it were a 100 zone’; notwithstanding you went on to cite a specific example – is why i suggest your text isn’t ‘strictly’ accurate. breathe, woody…

‘Diplomatic staff member’ eh Kratz, sounds like his skill set includes knowing how to make coffee. I believe you were well within your rights to explain to this spanner where he could hide his DC plates. It would have given him a clearer message than any complaint would. If you weren’t parked in the previously mentioned ‘diplomatic parking’ space, I suspect he thought you were leaving and over-reacted when he found you weren’t.

Regarding the keep left above 80 km/h rule; I love how some drivers strictly adhere to this one particular rule regardless of any consideration to other road users, but then question other rules like exceeding speed limits. The rule does say you don’t have to keep left under 80 km/h unless signposted, but it doesn’t mean you have to always keep right either. It shows it’s possile to be right and still be a jerk.

Its a case of DC\DX AABB, where AA is the assigned number of the diplomatic mission, BB is the number of the registered car for that mission.
There is no system for how AA was determined, as the embassy number codes were assigned by randomised ballot way back in the Ago.

DC plates are means its owned by the head of the mission, members of the diplomatic staff of the mission and their eligible family members.
DX plates are owned by administrative, technical, and service staff of the mission and their eligible family members.

If Canberrans wanted to pool onto RiotACT their knowledge of Embassy A = 01, Embassy B = 02…, etc, apparently nowhere else on the Interwebs has an Australian reference guide.

Woody Mann-Caruso3:07 pm 19 Oct 10

however in a 100kmh zone it does, so woody is not strictly accurate

What part of ‘you’re permitted to drive in the right lane in a 100 zone if traffic is congested’ wasn’t strictly accurate?

Canberrans are the worst for being in the right lane just because they feel like it. You’re meant to keep left whenever possible

‘Meant to’? By whom? The law is unequivocable – 80 or less, drive where the hell you want. I don’t have to show any form of understanding whatsoever to somebody who wants to break the law by by speeding.

Seriously, what do you say when you ‘crack it’? ‘Stop driving in the right lane in an entirely lawful manner! I want to break the speed limit and you’re making it inconvenient for me to do so!” If there’s traffic, you’ve got nowhere to go. If there isn’t, just speed in the left lane. It’s not your personal lane.

(Does your vehicle happen to be black?)

Some hilarious remarks, but does anyone have a list of DC codes and countries handy? Apparently they do not correspond to international dial codes as someone suggested, they are randomly allocated numbers. I think the DFAT heldesk is for diplomatic staff and I’m sure if I complain via DFAT they would “soften it up” before contacting the embassy involved, I’d rather contact the embassy myself.

eyeLikeCarrots2:31 pm 19 Oct 10

You should have shown him what your 2 digits mean.

You’re meant to keep left whenever possible.

well, if the road speed limit is designated as an 80kmh or slower then ‘keep left unless overtaking’ does not technically apply (however in a 100kmh zone it does, so woody is not strictly accurate) – and anyway, the stated speed of this ‘miscreant’ was in fact as fast as the speed limit posted for that roadway, so there is no justifiable excuse for anything to pass unless an emergency vehicle with appropriate cause… duno why we’re railing against this driver.

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Were you driving in the right lane for no reason or were you actually overtaking people?

Why is this relevant? It’s perfectly legal to drive on the right in an 80 zone for no reason whatsoever. Even if it were a 100 zone, the poster clearly states that ‘traffic was heavy’, and congestion gives you permission to drive in the right lane as well.

It’s relevant because if there was no reason for him to be driving in the right lane it’s understandable that someone driving behind him who wants to go faster would crack it. Canberrans are the worst for being in the right lane just because they feel like it. You’re meant to keep left whenever possible.

Woody Mann-Caruso1:55 pm 19 Oct 10

Were you driving in the right lane for no reason or were you actually overtaking people?

Why is this relevant? It’s perfectly legal to drive on the right in an 80 zone for no reason whatsoever. Even if it were a 100 zone, the poster clearly states that ‘traffic was heavy’, and congestion gives you permission to drive in the right lane as well.

Were you driving in the right lane for no reason or were you actually overtaking people?

Doesn’t the speed limit have to be over 80km for the “drive on the left hand side unless overtaking” rule to apply? That’s what I have been told anyway. I do however get over to the left when I can.

erv said :

It’s times like these you need minties.

moments, moments like these. its the alliteration they were working on, sadly to little avail, it seems… 😉

i’d have not only not moved, i’d have locked the car, then walked away somewhere (though ideally somewhere with a view to watch proceedings thereafter) and sent a txt to said loved one for whom you were waiting to let them know the situation and come watch the frivolity too.

libya huh? rekkun that’s a lost battle – let it go. this too shall pass.

motleychick said :

Were you driving in the right lane for no reason or were you actually overtaking people?

The “Keep Left Unless Overtaking” rule applies: when the speed limit is above 80km/h or if it is sign posted.

UrbanAdventure.org said :

p1 said :

I would have had my radio on, so would not have heard the guy in the first place.

LOL!

Some weeks ago I was travelling at 80 KM/h along Adelaide Ave towards the city when a dark coloured (I think it was blue or purple) 4 door Rav 4 came up behind me and beeped its horn. I ignored it, as traffic was heavy and i had to concentrate on driving. The person continued beeping, then charged past in the bus lane and shot by at well over 80 km/h and then without indicating, changed all the way over to the left lane.

Were you driving in the right lane for no reason or were you actually overtaking people?

ConanOfCooma1:22 pm 19 Oct 10

Diplomatic immunity only extends to the law, it won’t stop a fast moving grouping of clenched digits.

I can’t believe you moved.

A more appropriate response would have been “Please sir, by all means, call the police”.

Pommy bastard1:21 pm 19 Oct 10

Does anyone get images of “Lethal Weapon II” going through their mind when reading this?

[Rudd fires at Riggs, hitting him several times. Riggs falls, writhing in pain. Arjen’s gun clicks empty. Roger aims at him]
Roger Murtaugh: [shouting] DROP IT, ASSHOLE!
Martin Riggs: [weakly] Rog…
Arjen Rudd: [holds up his wallet] Diplomatic immunity!
[Roger slowly rolls his head on his neck, takes aim, and fires – his bullet goes through Rudd’s wallet, and then his head]
Roger Murtaugh: It’s just been revoked!

I live in Yarralumla. We get our fair share of DC driver ‘mishaps.’ The other day outside the US embassy I came across a blond woman in black Range Rover:
a) talking on her phone;
b) driving on the wrong side of the road;
c) hitting her horn (thereby evidencing her right of way); and
d) not looking in front of her.
Textbook DC behaviour. Can’t say I got her numberplate- I was too busy getting well and truly out of her way!

This happened to me a couple of months ago in a loading zone (legitimately loading/off loading may I add). The driver of the car, however, did not have diplomatic plates proving that even Joe Citizens can be rude and self absorbed.

UrbanAdventure.org12:04 pm 19 Oct 10

p1 said :

I would have had my radio on, so would not have heard the guy in the first place.

LOL!

Some weeks ago I was travelling at 80 KM/h along Adelaide Ave towards the city when a dark coloured (I think it was blue or purple) 4 door Rav 4 came up behind me and beeped its horn. I ignored it, as traffic was heavy and i had to concentrate on driving. The person continued beeping, then charged past in the bus lane and shot by at well over 80 km/h and then without indicating, changed all the way over to the left lane. I noticed the diplomatic plates and a small South African flag sticker on the lower left of the Rav 4’s rear. Sure enough, this driver pulled off Adelaide Ave and into the South African embassy.

Not really a great indicator of a professional driving standard or even reasonable behaviour of a foreign country’s diplomatic staff.

As for the OP’s situation, I would have ignored the diplomatic driver’s rant, other than to take a photo or video of it to post on Youtube. You do have a camera phone right? It would make them think twice about pulling such a stunt again. Also maybe their management would be sufficiently embarrassed by such footage as to discipline the staffer.

I would have had my radio on, so would not have heard the guy in the first place.

Woody Mann-Caruso10:59 am 19 Oct 10

I’d have moved. Knowing my luck, I’d get the psycho with an Uzi in the front seat and full diplomatic immunity. Just not worth the effort.

georgesgenitals10:49 am 19 Oct 10

The first two numbers represent the country code you would dial for an international phone call.

Why on earth would you move? I would have just smiled politely and slowly raised my midle finger in his direction

You moved!?

Holden Caulfield10:11 am 19 Oct 10

I go by the rule that DC = Dumb C… and usually keep my wits about me when anywhere near a car with such plates.

Skidbladnir #7 indicated #1 Marcus Clarke has a single diplomatic space opposite it.

As far as I can tell from fumbling-around on Google Street View, The Lakeside Hotel is #2 Marcus Clarke and #1 must be associated with that NewActon confangulation accross the road.

Why there’d be a diplomatic space there is beyond me (Except The Lakeside used to be Canberra’s most macho and ostentatious place for “entertaining VIPs” several decades ago)

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1+Marcus+Clarke+Street&sll=-35.284609,149.117424&sspn=0.006919,0.009645&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1+Marcus+Clarke+St,+City+Australian+Capital+Territory+2601&ll=-35.284557,149.125146&spn=0.006884,0.009645&t=h&z=17

It’s times like these you need minties.

Universal sign language works best in these instances I found.

What is a “30 minute dropoff/pickup area” ? I haven’t come across one of those.
Is it a parking space or a “pick-up/set down only” space?
Or is it just Public Servant lingo for “Loading Zone”?

I would have told him to fark off. Who does he think he is?

You really took the soft option by leaving, I just would have called the police & said he had a knife…..

You could try contacting DFAT and they should be able to tell you which embassy owns the prefix “15”.

Once you find this out, I would encourage you to make a complaint to both the embassy concerned, probably in writing, and then perhaps to DFAT, so at least they have it on record.

Plates starting with DC15 belong to the Libyan embassy …Enjoy! 🙂

Depending on where you were on Marcus Clarke, there is actually a dedicated Diplomatic spot there.
From DFAT:
There are, however, a limited number of reserved parking spaces for diplomatic vehicles available in certain commercial areas of Canberra for official use by diplomatic missions. These are located as follows:
One space adjacent to No. 1 Marcus Clarke Street in the City
Six spaces at No. 2 Reg Saunders Way (off Russell Drive, adjacent to R7 North Building – Defence headquarters)
Five spaces in the courtyard accessed from Riverside Lane, off Ainslie Avenue in the City
Four spaces in the off-street parking area opposite the Alexander Building, Phillip
Vehicles with DC or DX registration plates are eligible to use these spaces.

However, most DC platers are dickheads when it comes to road safety.

Postalgeek said :

aaah kratz, you had me until you said ‘I left the parking spot’.

+1

Bizarre indeed. Sounds like you should have been the one calling the police.

I doubt you will get far with a complaint – but I found this on the Foreign Affairs website in the Diplomatic Protection, Privileges and Immunities section:

Motor vehicle matters: (02) 6261 2562

Why did you have fear for your safety? You weren’t doing anything different that he wanted to do i.e. wait for someone. He wouldn’t of been of any importance, diplomats don’t drive them selves to meetings or events, they have drivers like the person you dealt with. Personally I wouldn’t of moved because you can be guaranteed that the person held up behind the DC driver would of been on your side as well given the situation. If you could identify who the driver worked for I would lodge a complaint with embassy, consulate etc. As you can be guaranteed that the actual “diplomats” would be, well, a lot more diplomatic 🙂 The actions of there employees do reflect on them and who they represent so I doubt they would be happy about what happened. Just for the record I have a personal relationship with one of the embassy’s in Canberra and they are all lovely people including their driver so please don’t let this experience put you off all of them. Although I would always do my best to keep a safe distance when driving from any car with a DC plate… that’s just common sense 🙂

You left the spot!?! Gaahh! Well, I guess if he was really going off his twig… He was probably late picking up his tyrannical ambassador and thought he’d just share the love around.

I would have offered to call the cops myself, except that I’m not sure my phone can record video and make a phone call at the same time.

Funny moral compass they’ve got – they won’t park in a disabled spot, no, that’d be wrong, but they will abuse Joe Citizen and act like they’re entitled to park wherever they like?

Getting out of your car and going over to them – bad plan. Paints you as the aggressor.

Stay in the car, wind up the windows, and call their bluff. What would the police do to you after all?

aaah kratz, you had me until you said ‘I left the parking spot’.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.