Toronto Police are urging drivers to calm down if they get ticketed after a driver allegedly struck a parking enforcement officer's bicycle with his car last week.

"If you do receive a parking ticket, you have the option of going to court if you disagree with it," Const. Tony Vella told CTV News on Tuesday.

"That is the most reasonable thing to do. Taking out your frustrations on the officer is not going to do you any good."

The incident occurred last Thursday at about 2:30 p.m.

A Toronto Police parking enforcement officer issued a ticket to a vehicle that he judged to be parked illegally on College Street West.

"The driver of the vehicle came out and became upset," Vella alleged. "He was argumentative and belligerent towards the parking enforcement officer."

The officer rode away on his bicycle to "de-escalate the situation," he said.

Police allege the accused got into his vehicle, followed the officer southbound on Bellevue Street and struck his bicycle, he said.

The officer suffered abrasions to both knees. He has since returned to work, Vella said.

Roozbeh Hooriafshar, 28, of Oakville has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and assault with a weapon.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 7. No allegations against Hooriafshar have been proven in a court of law.

Vella said people might not like receiving tickets, but they should respect what parking officers do because they control parking in the city.

"If it wasn't for them, people would be parking in the middle of the roadways," he said.

Vella said physical attacks on parking enforcement officers aren't very commonplace, but enduring verbal abuse is an almost-daily part of their jobs.