Diplomatic immunity - meaning and how to get

[ulillillia]

On this one car chase case I see on those hot pursuit shows, if I recall, there's someone claiming diplomatic immunity (a drunk that actually doesn't have it). What is diplomatic immunity and how does one get it? What benefits/downfalls does such a thing have?

[Requiel]

If you're an official representative of a sovereign nation such as a member of your country's Embassy staff then you have diplomatic immunity to prosecution in your host nation under the Vienna Convention. This is to prevent nations from using the law to harrass representatives from countries they might be in dispute with and interfere with their consular or ambassadorial jobs. You can't apply for it as a normal citizen, if you have a job like that then the diplomatic immunity is attached to the role rather than the person.

If you have diplomatic immunity and you break the law in your host nation then you might still be tried and punished in your home nation, the host nation can also ask for your diplomatic immunity to be waived (which sometimes happens) or you might be expelled from that country.