Philadelphia

Dave

• Started at the PPA in 2002
• Still plays softball with the guys he grew up playing baseball with
• Loves ice hockey and works at a skating rink in the winter teaching kids to skate and play hockey
• Growing up, wanted to be a fireman and collects firefighting memorabilia
• Likes his Philly cheesesteaks with “the works” : hot peppers, tomato, onions, etc
• Worked as a lot officer before becoming a tow truck driver

Herman

• Started at the PPA in 1993 and has been a tow truck driver since 2000
• Also works as a DJ which he started doing as a teenager
• Loves all music, especially Latin Reggae and classic Salsa
• Previously worked in a metal fabrication company
• Has a young son who is the light of his life

Neema

• Neema is a Swahili name meaning “born in prosperity”
• Worked in towing since 2005
• Her mother worked at the PPA for about 23 years
• Has a four year old daughter named Sanaa who is very ‘girly’
• Always wanted to be a tow truck driver
• Was a ticket writer for a year and a half before towing
• Used to work in both security and at a steel mill before the PPA

Clarence

• Had been towing since 1996
• Retired in 2007
• He says at least 50% of the people he tows will argue with him (it’s like having a bull’s-eye painted on the truck)
• Longs for the more compassionate values of the past
• Is also a photographer and wedding videographer
• Used to work towing for AAA, but there people were “happy” to see him
• His car was towed once when his sister borrowed it

John

• John has worked at the PPA since 2003
• He loves his truck and calls it a “big erector set.”
• Used to admire garbage men as a child.
• Thinks he’d make a good interior designer

Frank

• Started driving the flatbed in 2006, before that drove a standard tow truck and was a lot officer
• Feels bad for owners of cars he tows, but feels good about getting uninsured and illegal cars off the road
• Has 3 grown kids
• He worked in desktop publishing for 17 years and says that before becoming a tow truck driver, the heaviest thing he lifted was a pair of scissors
• Would love to eventually leave the city for a quiet place on the shore

Brad

• Has been a towing supervisor since 2007, drove a tow truck before that
• Supervises the Saturday night Old City detail that keeps traffic moving in on the busy party night
• Is a newlywed

Ed

• Has been at the PPA since 2004
• Worked for a private tow company before doing accident recovery and repossessions
• Understands how citizens feel, had his car towed and was upset when he came to claim it
• Off the job he likes to stay home with his family

Martin

• Martin has spent 5 years at the PPA and was ticketing before becoming a tower
• He enjoys all the ladies he meets on the job
• At the end of his shift he does push ups for every car towed
• He likes towing expensive cars because he feels like he’s driving them
• His dad works for the PPA and was in the original Parking Wars documentary
• He has a five-year old daughter

NOTE: We are very sad to announce that Martin passed away peacefully in 2007. We are honored to have personally worked with such a professional and joyful young man. He was full of life and warmth, and brought laughter to everyone around him. We offer our deepest condolences to Martin’s family, friends and colleagues. We hope that those who watch Martin on the show will enjoy seeing him at his best and brightest.

Dorian

• Started working for the PPA in 2003
• Has to stay on his toes at work because he’s always facing something new
• Felt like an official member of the PPA the first time he got cussed out on the job
• Loves to make jokes “the cornier the better” to make people laugh
• Likes to see people leave the impound lot in a better mood than when they came in

Toni

• Started at the PPA in 2002
• Dealing with customers, she likes to “get ’em in, get ’em out” and she “goes with the flow”
• Previously worked as an EMT
• Likes to have fun with her co-workers, otherwise you could “go crazy”
• Has 3 children and 3 grand-children

Kathy

• Started at the PPA in 1991
• Prays before coming into work and after she leaves for the day
• Greets customers with a smile so they’ll realize she’s not the enemy
• She is a great-grand mother

Barb

• Started at the PPA in 2005
• Has had jobs working with the public for 40 years
• Has a son in the Marines and a daughter in the Navy
• Describes herself as a “serious person” when at work

Mark

• Considers himself “good and polite” on the job, especially to ‘hot chicks’
• Rates his stress level a low “2 out of 10”
• He started at the PPA in 2005
• Music is his passion, he plays guitar and wants to take up the drums
• His musical heroes are Randy Rhodes (from Ozzy Osbourne) and Jimi Hendrix

Note: We are very sad to announce that Mark recently passed away. He was clearly well loved and respected by everyone he knew, and we are honored to have personally worked with such a thoughtful, helpful and kind man. We offer our deepest condolences to Mark’s family, friends and colleagues. We hope that those who watch Mark on the show will enjoy the memories of him as the bright, warm person he was.

Tracey

• She’s a retired therapist
• Thinks people who drive without a license should be penalized to the fullest extent of the law
• She tries to use humor to calm people down
• She’s a Philly girl – and has lived in Philly all her life

Andrea

• Nickname is Butter
• Lot officer since 2002
• Has two kids
• Likes working Sundays the best – when there are no customers
• She doesn’t let the customers know that they’re getting to her
• Favorite part of the job is helping customers and making sure they get their cars back

Leeanne

• Before working at the PPA she was an insurance agent
• Loves working at the PPA because “there is always something going on.”
• Doesn’t like just sitting at a desk
• Says that since working at the PPA her skin has gotten a lot “thicker.”
• Favorite hobbies are sleeping and Shopping

Rudy

• Rudy has worked at the lot since 2005
• Met his girlfriend when she came in to release her car
• The ladies tend to flirt with him at the window
• A charmer, he likes to kill the customer with kindness

Larry

• Has worked as a lot officer since 2002
• Has two grown daughters
• Used to be a paperhanger
• Has a second job as a bartender
• Admits his daughter calls him a “Grumpy Old Man”

Rob

• Believes in keeping a level head when customers get upset
• Looks like Robert Duvall

John

• Has worked at the lot since 2007
• His father is a meter mechanic with the PPA

Yolanda

• Likes working with the public
• Owns 11 dogs
• Nickname is “Yogi”

Abdul

• When things are hectic, Abdul tries to get customers to smile
• When people get mad he just lets it roll off him

Richie

• Started at the PPA in 2009
• Played college football for Delaware State University but had to quit when he injured his knee playing against Michigan
• Least favorite part about his job as a PEO is finishing up the paperwork at the end of the day
• Takes him 15 – 20 minutes to do his hair every morning
• His nicknames include “Richie B.” and “Jersey Shore”
• Drives a Mustang convertible

Gina

• Joined the PPA in 2007
• Wants a puppy really badly.
• Loves her squad but thinks of it as a dysfunctional family.
• Was a hair dresser for 10 years.
• Likes to look good and professional on the job.
• Her work nickname is “Maniac Shrimp”

Denise

• Started at the PPA in 2008
• Has been married for 24 years and has three sons.
• Before she joined the PPA, she once had her car booted.
• Her family thinks she’s crazy for working in parking enforcement.
• Has a reputation on the street for being nice.

Mike

• Started at the PPA in 2007 at age 18
• Father was in the police force for 27 years
• Would prefer to drive a dirty pick up truck than a BMW
• Calls himself a “country boy” rather than a “city boy”
• Loves hunting and fishing
• Has a deer tattoo and aims to get more at some stage
• Has never had a parking ticket in his life

Ken

• Goes to karate on Wednesday nights
• Lives and works in South Philly
• Member of the PPA bowling team

Tim

• Started at the PPA in 2007
• Hates working in the rain
• People that just drive by and yell stuff aggravate him
• Loves his job because he doesn’t have to go into an office
• Wouldn’t think twice about ticketing his friends

Lori

• Lori started at the PPA in 1995
• She’s dating and is a grandmother
• Nickname: Energizer bunny
• She has been punched in the face on the job
• Uses over 15 packs of sugar to sweeten her coffee

Tiffany

• Tiffany has been on the job since 2005
• Originally from New York
• Nickname is “Swoop”
• Her boyfriend is also in ticketing and has “the most beautiful blue eyes”
• She used to work at UPS and met her best friend there 5 years ago
• Says men argue more than women when it comes to tickets
• Often has to say the Serenity Prayer get through a stressful work day

Marylin

• Marylin has been on the job since 2007
• Single mother of three
• A former doctor’s assistant
• Has a passion for fashion
• Would like to be an interior designer

Fatima

• Been on the job since 1997
• She and her girlfriends are called the triplets, helping each other out on the beat
• Says men flirt with her to try to get free parking
• Enjoys the free entertainment she finds on the streets of Philly
• On-the-job tip: Wear good shoes

Shawn

• Has worked for the PPA since 2005
• Used to work with mentally and physically disabled children
• Wants to be a police officer
• Sees his job as a an opportunity to educate the public about parking

Roberta

• Single mother of four
• Used to be a crossing guard
• Her nickname is “Bunny”
• Admits she is hyper almost all of the time
• Has tattoos and a tongue piercing

Luz

• Was promoted to supervisor in 2005 – has been with the PPA since 2002
• Used to work at a jewelry store
• Is a grandmother
• Loves Philly “water ice”
• Is a clean freak, keeps her van immaculate

Paul

• On the job since 2005
• His squad nicknamed him “Turtle” because of his slow and steady pace
• Used to be a wallpaper hanger
• Likes to do impressions including Elmo and Crocodile Dundee
• Has an extensive lighter collection
• Likes to say he is a “jack of all trades, master of none”
• Doesn’t like confrontation

Jim

• Started on the job in 2007
• A singer, he auditioned for American Idol – and sang “What You Won’t Do For Love”
• It bothers him that people hate him because of what he does
• In a band called “Doyle’s Law”
• Favorite Excuse: “I was only there a minute”

Carmen

• On the job since 2005
• Grew up in South Philly
• Father raised him to believe “Words can’t hurt you” so he doesn’t let the job get to him
• He is only five feet tall
• Wanted to be a policeman but was too short
• He doesn’t own a car
• Referees children’s football games

Marlene

• One of the older, more glamorous women in ticketing
• A widow, her husband was a police officer
• Deals with angry people by trying to listen to them and not preaching
• Lived in the Poconos and managed a convenience store before moving back to Philly
• Loves ticketing and wishes she found it sooner
• Calls herself the “Vanna White” of the parking authority because she’s all smiles

Lisa

• Has been on the job since 2005
• Her friends call her a rat because she works for the PPA
• She is in a relationship and has 2 children
• Says guys who get tickets are okay, it’s the girls who can be nasty!
• She once had to take refuge in a house from an angry citizen
• Is astounded how angry people get over $26
• Only trusts known vendors for meals because she is afraid someone might see her uniform and spike her food

Jeff

• On the job since 2005
• Musician, plays guitar, produces hip-hop tracks and in plays in a punk band
• Favorite insult: being called “meter maid”
• Women on his beat find him good looking
• Was promoted to supervisor in 2008
• Likes to have fun with his squad, but knows when to get serious
• Has a brother who is also ticketing with the PPA
• Worst part of the job: “lots of people want to kill you”

Danielle

• Danielle has worked in ticketing since 2004
• She is called a “priority queen” by her colleagues because she attracts the difficult citizens
• Calls herself a “girly-girl” and loves her colorful nails
• Pet peeve: when people don’t read the signs
• Favorite color is blue – she hates green
• Loves the Dallas Cowboys and pro wrestling
• Likes to cuddle with her boyfriend
• Favorite comeback: Call the number at the bottom of the ticket

Brian

• Brian has worked in ticketing since 2002
• Worked in the paper industry for over 20 years and joined the PPA after being laid off
• Loves fine coffee
• Likes to go fishing in his free time
• Hates office jobs, likes being outside “like a free range chicken”
• Has a 16 year-old son
• Favorite comeback: The pleasure is all yours
• Best friend at the PPA is Lori

Mike

• Has been a Booter since 2006
• Says that if he were an animal he would be a sloth
• Named after St Michael
• Has a steel pin in his knee from a high school football injury
• Considered being a soldier before his injury
• Favorite thing about the job is helping people
• Dreams of winning the lottery and becoming billionaire

Jen

• Started at the PPA in 2005
• Loves animals, has both a dog and a cat
• Wanted to be a veterinarian
• Enjoys a good workout at the gym
• Describes herself as hyper and antsy
• She’s addicted to reading – has over 200 books (including the entire Harry Potter series)
• Is afraid of heights and would never want to go into Outer Space
• Has 7 piercings in one ear and 4 in the other, one in her tongue and one in her nose
• Likes exotic fruits, especially passion fruit
• Dreams of booting cars in her sleep

Steve "Garfield"

• Steve has worked at PPA since 1983
• Steve was a member of the original boot squad
• His nickname is “Inspector Gadget” because he loves new electronic gadgets
• He loves to drive and has even worked moving vehicles for car rental companies
• He loves the band Bad Religion
• He loves going into ethnic neighborhoods for the food, but is also a fan of Philly favorites such as the soft pretzel and cheese steak
• When Steve retires he wants to travel the country in a mobile home

Sherry

• Sherry has worked for the PPA since 2003 and has been in booting since 2005
• She was trained by her partner Steve, and calls him “Garfield”
• She is married to a Deacon and has eight kids
• She has trouble watching her waistline with Garfield as her partner

Jennifer

• Has been working for the PPA since 1998
• Has a young daughter
• The smallest booter her nickname is “the little one”
• Likes booting expensive cars

Maureen

• Has been a booter since 2002
• She stands four inches taller than her partner at 5’4"
• She is engaged to a ticket writer

Elissa

• She is the youngest booter ever
• She was a ticket writer for 1 1/2 years and started booting in 2007
• She mostly works the booting computer because she types 75 words per minute
• Her grandmother is a ticketing supervisor

Rob

• He is married and has 3 sons
• Worked as a tile setter for 14 years and still likes to do it occasionally on the side
• Likes working with his hands, so prefers putting the boot on over working the computer

Johnny

• Was ticketing for 6 years before he became a booter
• Has been hit by a car and has had a gun pulled on him while working for the PPA
• Says “it’s never boring”

Jim

• Has been working for the PPA since 2004, used to be in ticketing
• A rookie booter on the night shift
• Loves to play and watch sports
• Nickname is “Cheeks”