# Honorary Consular license plate **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 27, 2001, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504 "2001-04-27T06:22:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504/1 "2001-04-27T06:22:39Z")
Was caught in traffic today behind a Jag with an “Honorary Consul” license plate. If actual diplomatic plates are issued by State Dept. instruction, would they include this “Honorary Consul” business ? If so, what is it, and would it get the same privileges ? If not, do states have the authority to issue such things, and with how much privilege attached ? Can a state just provide some dignitary - or their vehicle - with some kind of traffic law privilege ? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2001, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504/2 "2001-04-27T16:03:29Z")
Here’s a site with some interesting information: [http://danshiki.oit.gatech.edu/~iadt3mk/usa/US\_XCCX.html#DCCX](http://danshiki.oit.gatech.edu/~iadt3mk/usa/US_XCCX.html#DCCX) Also: [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2001/index.cfm?docid=683](http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2001/index.cfm?docid=683) ---
**Author:** ![Jorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@Jorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorge)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504/3 "2001-04-28T07:59:36Z")
Thanks, _monty_; I read through 'em, but they don’t cover the “Honorary Consul” issue, which [not being listed in the first site] doesn’t appear to be US State Dept. sanctioned. ---
**Author:** ![Ned](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/848f3c/32.png) [@Ned](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ned)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2001, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504/4 "2001-04-28T10:49:47Z")
Honorary consul plates are issued by the state not the state department. They provide prestige. It’s a funny position and you will find considerable disinformation on the web due to the ability to purchase the title from some countries. ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504/5 "2001-04-30T14:29:27Z")
I work for a man who used to be an Honorary Consul. The H.C. plate is issued by the state and doesn’t really carry any special privileges at all: you don’t get out of parking tickets, you can’t park in handicapped or otherwise reserved spaces, you can’t speed, etc. In my state (MA), anyway, the main advantage is that the cost of the plate is much less than a regular plate; and it is possible that cops/meter maids _might_ let things slide for which they would ticket a regular person, but they are not under any obligation to do so. The office of Honorary Consul is just that - an honorary position - and doesn’t carry any diplomatic benefits. Most H.C.s are business people who are granted the title in exchange for providing office space, funding, staffing, etc., for a Consulate branch office, where people can register births & marriages, apply for visas, have documents translated, etc. They are not the same type of office as the main Consulate that deals directly with the government of the home country. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2001, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honorary-consular-license-plate/63504/6 "2001-04-30T15:06:00Z")
From the U.S. State Department [website](http://www.state.gov/www/travel/consular_offices/preface.html) > [@](#): > > HONORARY CONSULAR OFFICERS As a matter of U.S. policy, honorary consular officers recognized by the U.S. Government are American citizens or permanent resident aliens who perform consular services on a part-time basis. The limited immunity afforded honorary consular officers is specified in Article 71 of the VCCR. Such individuals do not enjoy personal inviolability and may be arrested pending trial if circumstances should otherwise warrant. However, appropriate steps must be provided to accord to such officers the protection required by virtue of their official position. In addition, the consular archives and documents of a consular post headed by an honorary consular officer are inviolable at all times and wherever they may be, provided they are kept separate from other papers and documents of a private or commercial nature relating to other activities of an honorary consular officer or persons working with that consular officer.