A change of magnitude perhaps, but on principle possibly the same. We don't know the full situation in the case of the person ticketted, perhaps they'd been called in to work unexpectedly, been unable to find a parking place, spent a long shift saving lives and returned to find a parking fine. Regardless of that, I'd say their behaviour was wrong, they should have continued on and dealt with the ticket through the proper channels and it could well have been that they'd have had to pay it. As it is, there was a threat worded in anger, which if they are a health care professional will do them no favours. Now in your case, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you're expected to ignore such behaviour and if appropriate report it to the police/management. In practice, the chances are nothing will happen to the person who I agree was acting stupidly, but the response given was a gesture displayed (it would seem to me) in anger. Morally to me, the situations seem potentially similar, the person ticketted was in no danger, and you were in no danger, and if the person ticketted was a health care professional (which to me it sounds like he wasn't) in a situation described above then I can easily see they might be angry, just as I can see why (I presume) you were. Addtionally, you were in a liveried vehicle and in uniform, and I think it possible that some people may well have seen the gesture, without seeing the provocation. If so, what sort of image does that convey? Many people who wear uniforms have to deal with stupid people who will do things selfishly, and I have on some (admittedly) rare occasions had to put up with such things. My approach has always been (provided I'm in no danger) to try to diffuse or ignore, you weren't in a position to diffuse it so in my view (which I hope you don't mind me stating) you should have ignored it.