Do Embassies have the right to tell people NOT to park, stand or loiter in front, on the street?

Question

The foreign embassy near where I live, I will not state which country it is embassy of, put up a sign saying that people are not allowed to stop, stand, or park in front of the building. Surely, this area is a public space, and thus beyond the juridisiction of the embassy? As it is, this embassy has such power that taxis do not stop in front of the building, if I stand with my back to the building, looking in my bag to get out my mobile phone, the guard watches me with his gun at the ready. What is this about? Such paranoia is not good.
If they have the right, I would like to know the reasons.
Thanks.

I'm not anywhere near America, for your information though that's exactly my point.

Within the confines of this embassy, they can do what they like, but outside the fences, on the street, in a public space, the laws of the land operate. And yet this particular embassy wishes to tell the citizens of the country not to stop, park or stand in front of the fences, ON THE PUBLIC street? That's what I'm asking.

Answer 1

True, the embassy's boundaries are supposed to be up to their gates only BUT as a courtesy AND for security reasons the host country has ALLOWED them to enforce precautionary measures that they deem necessary to protect their embassy. Just like what you said they are doing.

This is "quid pro quo", meaning the US embassies around the world are allowed to do this too. Did you know that the US embassy in some countries have built anti-tank barricades disguised as concrete flower boxes (planters) to deter suicide car bombers? The "outside security guards" (inclusive of a swat team) are the local police of that country who guard the perimeter 24 X 7 and make sure traffic never stops in front of the embassy.**

Answer 2

How do you know how far the property line for the land that embassy sits on extend to? The property that embassy or consulate's office sits is considered a foreign soil even if it exists in the United States.

Plus, the world we live in with the armed conflict escalating, they must eliminate all the possibilities of violence. Such measures are standard, authorized by the US government, for all foreign government offices without sufficient buffer zone.

As to they are not letting YOU stand in front of their embassy, tell me what terrorists and criminals look like and what they have done to some of the embassys.

Answer 3

By treaty agreement the embassies are sovereign soil of that country and are accorded rather large leeway in maintaining a 'safe' zone around there land. Is paranoia 'real' when the threat actually exist? These are hard times in which we live. There might be more people alive if the USA had adopted policies like this in some countries, BTW.

Answer 4

actually, they do. if you don't believe it...or don't like it...check State Department regulations concerning foreign embassies. And by the way, like it or not, despite the fact that the buildings are situated in a particular country, the ground they occupy (and therefore the building they're in) are legally considered foreign soil, and is soverign to the nation the embassy represents.

Answer 5

It all depends which country your in I suppose and how much infulence the Embassy has over the local authorities.

But I think in London, they wouldn't get away with that sort of thing. However, once you step on Embassy soil, your will be treated as if you were in that country.

Sounds as if its an USA embassy somewhere, probably in London.

Don't you just love it that the Americans on Yahoo! Answer assume everyone who writes on this site is an American! And that its always the other countries who do impolite things like this.

Answer 6

As long as you're on the public highway, and doing nothing illegal, you should be OK. If the security personnel politely ask you to move along is that really a problem?
When does waiting for someone become loitering, when does parking become obstructing the highway? That's for the police to decide.
If you're that concerned, check with your local council highways dept, they should be able to confirm if these restrictions have been legally applied for and are therefore enforcable.

Answer 7

there is a real threat out there from crazy extremists against embassies in other countries! who is to say that a car bomb wont be parked outside? also, a man walking up with a gun will be shot or stopped on approach, you cant see a man getting his gun ready outside in his car where he can possibly shoot the security guard. it is needed i think, ive had calls to the american embassy in ireland where lunatics claiming to have guns are trying to get in

Answer 8

definite, i have dealt with an same challenge. Your neighbor landlord in basic terms would no longer care. this is nicely worth a attempt to call him, yet when he would not care, he received't be afflicted. In my section, it truly is dealt with through calling the police. I have called the police if a motor vehicle has no longer moved in weeks. The police officer will run the vehicle plate/registration and no matter if it truly is expired or unlawful, he will tag the vehicle for towing. it ought to take some days for the towing compnay to p.c.. it up. If the vehicle is registered, yet no longer street worth (flat tires) it truly is an same. the genuinely problem is that if the vehicle plate/registration is valid and the vehicle is street worth the officer would no longer tag the vehicle.

Answer 9

I'm right with windy2000.... yeah, I'm also pretty sure that is some USA embassy/consulate. And that's nothing.. you should see the treatment on USA consulates in Mexico. In THEORY, they have no jurisprudence outside the embassy or consulate fence, and they have NO LEGAL RIGHT to control traffic or other similar actions.

Answer 10

For reasons of security they have to do this. It is the same for every embassy in every country.

PS There are many examples of embassies and consulates being targeted by car bombs and suicide bombers from outside the periphery of the gates....