Agreed. "traffic warden" sounds like a police officer ("cop") with limited authority. Sounds like a UK thing. I have never encountered a traffic warden in the US.

In the US, a warden is the head employee who is in charge of a prison.

A warden has less authority. I suspect this is general as wardens can be private. Any organisation can appoint a warden: it is a roll. It has authroity only as empowered by whoever appointed it for wahtever purpose. . Generally, "cop" means police, working for some form of justice department with authority delegated by the government, be it local or federal. . Here city councils appoint wardens. "Meter maid" would be considered derogatory for either gender, here. Parking enforcement officer? Parking warden?

In America you say "meter maid". I don't know of a male equivalent. It may still be "meter maid" when it's a guy although they seem usually/often to be women.

Hiya traffic wardens generally give out parking tickets for cars parked in restricted areas whereas the traffic cops arrest people Or fine them for speeding or other traffic related crimes, not generally parking offenses and they have a lot more authority