New York City congestion pricing does not apply to US foes Iran, Russia, and other UN diplomats, with taxpayers being forced to cover the cost.

This month, New York introduced its contentious Congestion Relief Zone tolling system, which imposes a fee ranging from $9 to $21.60 on drivers who drive below 60th Street in Manhattan.

The State Department issued guidance on Jan. 6 that exempts employees and personnel from foreign missions and international organizations, including the United Nations, from paying Congestion Relief Zone fees.

""Some corrupt Iranian diplomat gets total immunity while a truck driver from Queens or New Jersey faces a new burden of $10K a year for delivering into Manhattan," New York City Republican Councilwoman Vickie Paladino told Planet Chronicle Digital."

The Queens Republican stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that the announcement of special treatment for United Nations personnel did not catch them off guard. Paladino explained that the U.N. has been using the city as their personal playground for years, and the State Department has allowed them to do so with blanket exemptions from the laws and fines that regular New Yorkers face. Paladino added, "It's just one big mess."

Paladino stated that diplomats are often given a free pass when it comes to speeding tickets, fines, and parking tickets, allowing them to drive around the five boroughs without consequence. She shared an example of a car with diplomatic plates accumulating over six figures in unpaid parking fines.

In 2022, an investigation by NBC New York discovered that Russian diplomats had amassed over $100,000 in unpaid fines for parking since 2003. According to a State Department spokesperson, a policy states that "three or more unpaid violations since 2003 will result in a nation being suspended from registering or renewing diplomatic license plates." Russia had 46 outstanding unpaid tickets, but the State Department declined to confirm if Russia's ability to register or renew diplomatic plates was suspended.

The Congestion Relief Zone imposes vehicle size-based rates on drivers, which will increase in 2031 to fund transportation system upgrades and reduce traffic. However, Paladino believes these fees will not result in significant improvements and criticized the subway system and Metropolitan Transportation Authority's debt.

The New York City union for EMTs and paramedics has urged its members to transfer from stations within the Congestion Relief Zone due to the $45 weekly charge to enter the zone, which has had an impact beyond decreasing traffic.

The State Department did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's inquiry about the exemption for U.N. personnel, the estimated number of vehicles exempted by their guidance, and whether New York and New Jersey residents should bear the economic burden of the Congestion Relief Zone while U.N. personnel, including representatives from hostile foreign regimes, pay nothing.

No response was received from the offices of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul when Planet Chronicle Digital contacted them for comment.

"Paladino stated that congestion pricing is likely the worst thing to happen economically after COVID, and fixing a broken city cannot be achieved by solely focusing on the middle and lower middle classes."

Many UN member states have missions in and around New York City, with a total of 193 member states.