I saw the most inflamed argument between a traffic warden and a motorist I’ve ever witnessed this week.

It didn’t become physical thank goodness, but the verbal abuse was something to behold and it got me to thinking.

Maybe it’s time for councils to be honest about parking charges and stop pretending we’re being forced to pay through the nose for our own good.

Why can’t they just cut the pretence and confess it’s all about the cash, then I’m sure it would be easier for us all to accept.

If I get fined, clamped or even have my car towed for parking illegally I don’t go looking for sympathy. But, don’t take me for a fool and suggest the reason for parking charges is to keep traffic moving, keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles or to provide local residents with enough spaces.

If this really is the case then adopt parking schemes where the tickets are issued for free.

This way you still have to park correctly and legally and, if you don’t bother to display your free ticket correctly you get fined – if this system was adopted then surely no-one could complain?

‘Why can’t they just cut the pretence and confess it’s all about the cash...’

But making bonus payments to traffic wardens on the basis of how many tickets they hand out and issuing fines in ridiculous circumstances (eg. one wheel touching a white line or the ticket displayed on the wrong side of the vehicle) is bound to inflame situations and cause tempers to flare.

I’m not making any excuse for abusing or assaulting parking attendants in any situation but as current policies stand you can see how it happens and will continue to happen.

Perhaps the traffic warden should have taken a more honest approach and said: “The council needs the cash and thinks this is the best way to get it.

“I want to thank you for breaking the rules and trying to abuse the system because if you didn’t me and my colleagues would all be out of a job”.

I reckon it would be more difficult to argue with this sort of honesty and full-blooded arguments like the one I saw might be avoided.

And, while I’m on the subject, it’s incredible how some councils manage to take a half sensible approach while others are as moronic as it’s possible to be.

From my parking experiences from taking the dog for a walk on the beach I have to put Thanet in the first category and Canterbury firmly in the second one.