While controversy is boiling in London over the American Embassy’s refusal to pay the $14 “congestion fee” for driving in the central business district, the city of New York is trying engaged in its own battle to get foreign diplomats to pay parking fines.

Egypt still owes the city nearly $2 million in fees and fines.

Ten of the worst scofflaws – including Kuwait, Brazil, and Pakistan – owe the city a total of about $8,053,000. The consulate of Britain, meanwhile, owes $1,175, none of which is delinquent in payment.

Most countries began paying their parking fees after November 2002, when a deal was done between Mayor Bloomberg and the State Department to help recover the millions of dollars owed by diplomats who were reported to be openly flouting the city’s parking laws. Some embassies tried the same argument America is making in London, redefining the fees as “taxes.”

Several countries are disputing the fines they racked up in the years prior to 2002, a spokesman for the city’s Department of Finance, Owen Stone, said.

In the agreement, the city approved one or two dedicated parking spaces for consulates or missions, but the rest of the diplomatic cars were required to pay parking fees. The agreement also stipulated that if three or more parking tickets weren’t paid within 100 days, the State Department reserved the right to remove the car’s diplomatic license plates.

The federal government is currently withholding 110% of the amount owed in aid from the negligent countries, Mr. Stone said. Since the legislation was passed in 2002, New York City has reduced the number of tickets to diplomats by 90%, he said. Egypt is among the countries that receives the most aid from America.