Meet the Cast of "Parking Wars" on A&E

Meet the Cast of "Parking Wars" on A&E 12/26/07

PARKING WARS Character Bios

TICKETING CREW

DANIELLE CONNOR Danielle has been ticketing for three years. She is called a priority queenby her colleagues because she attracts the difficult citizens. Calls herself a girly-girland 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.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA? My father and my mother recommended that I join the Parking Authority. She works in Lot Six. My father used to be a ticket writer. He's a supervisor of the pole crew that puts out the poles and the signs. And he fixes meters. He told me I could work for the parking authority but I just have to control my mouth.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? I had a lot of crappy jobs, so my father recommended I get this job. He thought that it would be a good job for me with the benefits and everything like that. If it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't be here.

WHAT TRAITS DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS JOB WELL? It seems very weird because you have people screaming and yelling they wouldn't want this job, then you got people asking me how they can get a job. It's a good job and people know it's a good job so people want it. They just don't want aggravation. But you don't get aggravation as long as you know how to treat people. If you know how to treat people then you won't be aggravated.

BRIAN KOEHLER Brian has been ticketing for five years. 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 15 year-old son. Favorite comeback: The pleasure is all yours.

HOW DID YOU COME TO JOIN THE PPA? I was in the papermaking business for 22 years, and everything kept shutting down. I was laid off. When you start getting into your 40s, you have to look for a little security, so I found my way here. I never dreamed at any point in my life that I'd be doing this to earn a living. Nobody aspires to do this as a kid, Oh, I want to grow up to be a ticket writer.Yeah right! It's not something I aspired to do as a young man. But some days you have to thank God you got a job to complain about, you know?

WHY DO YOU WORK FOR THE PPA? I'd be fired if I had to sit behind a desk-- too many ants in my pants. You get to be your own guy, do your own thing. There isn't anything worse than sitting in one of those stinking cubicles, you feel like you're cattle in the chute. But out here I'm like a free-range chicken, man-- just walk, walk, walk.

WHAT TRAITS DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS JOB WELL? You have to be kind of cold. Feels like you're a two-legged bloodsucker sometimes. But seriously you have to be a little different out here. You never know who's going to run up on you so your survival instinct kind of kicks in. But you give everybody a chance to get out and if they choose not to then you gotta do what you gotta do. I always try to give them the benefit of the doubt. The way I look at it-- its not just my job to ticket, it's my job to educate.

TIFFANY BENNARD On the job for two years. 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.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA? I was working for UPS for seven years as a supervisor at a hub. I got fired from my last job and by the grace of God I was lucky enough to find this one. This job was better; I make more money coming in the door and I'm not even a supervisor, the benefits are better and the hours are better, I get the weekends off and I get exercise, it works out.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? Why this job of all jobs? You know what I like about this job? You get to meet new people every single day. There are confrontations here and there, but I like that sometimes. Some days-- don't get me wrong-- it's not fun, it's not fun at all. They can really test your nerves and challenge you. Belittle you if they want. But overall it's a pretty good job. You don't go through that every single day.

WHAT ARE THE TRAITS THAT MAKE A GOOD TICKETER? There are some days when you actually have to say the serenity prayer to keep your sanity because you would lose it on people that target your race or target you because you're a woman and I'm like, Where do you get off calling me names because I gave you a 26 dollar ticket on a meter that you didn't even pay? I don't understand that. How do you talk to a stranger that way, what gives you the right?

A day in the parking authority is what you make it. What I mean by that is, if you come up here like all big and bad, your hands on your holster, you know what I mean; you're not going to get a really good reaction. Especially in areas where they already think the worst of you as it is. You're only confirming that when you come up here you're nasty. You give respect; you're going to get it. I expect them to respect me as well.

MARYLIN RODRIGUEZ Marylin is 34 and has spent under a year on the job. Single mother of three. A former Dr's assistant Has a passion for fashion. Enjoys interior design.

LUZ CASTRO Was promoted to supervisor 2 years ago has been with the PPA for 5 years. Used to work at a jewelry store. Is a grandmother Loves Philly water ice. Is a clean freak, keeps her van immaculate.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA I used to work at a jewelry store named Bangles and Beads on South Street, and I used to see the ticket writers out there writing tickets, and one day I just asked one of them where they were located. She told me, I went and put my application in and I was hired. I started as a ticket writer and about two and a half years later I was promoted to meter mechanic. I really didn't like it, not that I didn't like that job, I just wasn't an inside person. I had to be inside for a few weeks for the training and stuff. So I came back into ticketing and about two months or three months later I was promoted to supervisor.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? I'm a people's person. I enjoy speaking to people; I enjoy helping people with directions. Office jobs are not for everybody, everything is different. I have to be outside. I'm a people's person. This was meant for me.

WHAT TRAITS DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS JOB WELL? To do this job, you have to have the heart, because you'll get people out here that'll tell you all kinds of stuff. They will curse you out, but you cannot get really upset about it because it's part of the job. They curse at you, they want to call the police on you, and they want to say they're being harassed if you write them a couple times. It's a tough job. But I'm not your friend. I'm here to do my job, and I want you to do your job. Do it right and we'll go home with a nice peace of mind.

BOOTING CREW

STEVE GARFIELD Steve has worked at PPA for over 24 years. 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.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA? I've been with the parking authority for 24 years - since the program started in 1983. I'm the veteran. I actually wrote tickets for about two weeks. I was trained by two different PEO supervisors and after my training I went out on the street, and they both claimed that they were the ones that trained me because I went out the first day and got like forty tickets. Its fun and I actually liked it because it was really good exercise. I lost like ten pounds in a week and a half.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? You go to a different area every day, you meet different people every day and you come into different circumstances every day. You really get to hone your skills as far as dealing with people and seeing how you can keep people from getting agitated and having a real problem. I'm pretty good at dealing with people and I'm pretty good at finding the boots out there.

WHAT TRAITS DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS JOB WELL? I really like driving around. I've been more or less a professional driver all my life, so I really like being behind the wheel. But my favorite part of the job is meeting people on the street-- when they're not angry that is. I like helping people out when I can. If I can help them get their tickets paid for, I'll do that. I carry a car opening kit, if somebody's locked out of their car and I can take a minute or two to try to open their car, I'll do that.

SHERRY ROYAL Sherry has worked for the PPA for four years and was promoted from ticketing two years ago. 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.

TOWING CREW

CLARENCE NICHOLS 60 years old, has been towing for 11 years. Plans to retire in December. 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.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA? I'm a wedding photographer and videographer. I had a studio up on 52nd Street in Southwest Philly and I did very well up there. But life goes on. I saw that my age was coming on me, that I should get a job where I start paying into my retirement, and so I ended up here.

I've been in the PPA for eighteen years. I originally came in as a shift manager at one of the parking facilities; I was there for six years. I left there and went to writing tickets on the street for a little less than two years, then I came over here to be a tow operator. I have spent 10 years in a tow truck.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? Well, my grand mum always said I was supposed to be a minister or preacher of sorts. But I felt dedicated to the cause of just helping people in general. I like seeing people happy. I like seeing people smile. And basically, I have dedicated my life to getting people out of situations that they need getting out of. Whether it was drugs, trouble, marriage, or whatever, I enjoy being able to do that.

I enjoy towing. I just don't enjoy the reactions that I get from people. I like happy people, I like people with humor and joy and who are uplifting. Before I came here, I was with AAA doing the same thing. When people broke down on the side of the road with flats and disabled vehicles, they were so happy to see me come with the truck. Now when they see me coming it's gloom and doom. No one's ever happy. So this can be depressing.

WHAT TRAITS DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS JOB WELL? Those that are drawn towards this job don't know what this job's about. And then once they get the job, and they see the power in the job, they go a little bit overboard. You have three major investments in your lifetime. One is your marriage, one is your home, and the third is your car. Taking someone's third most valuable possession? That's power. Some people are jerks, really - nothing but power. And a lot of people can't handle the power. They use it as a tool. With me, like I say, it's just a job. It's all it will ever be to me, is a job. It's all about respect, you respect the job, you respect the truck, and you get respect back. You disrespect either, you going to get hurt. Physically hurt.

JOHN FARMER John has worked at the PPA for four years. 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.

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA? I was a security supervisor with a company that was doing private contract work for the parking authority. And a couple of the managers and department heads saw my work ethic and they liked me and asked if I wanted a job. So I accepted and started working at the impoundment lot as a lot officer and I used to watch the drivers. They used to teach me stuff so when I started towing I was kind of a little bit ahead of the game. I just got really good. The hardest parts of the job, I like doing. I've been with the PPA since 1997, ten years. I've been driving for four years.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? Freedom. I love the freedom the most about it. If you do your job and do it right, it's incredible.

WHAT ARE THE TRAITS THAT MAKE A GOOD TOWER? This is a schoolyard thing here. You see a guy that hates you from the time he sees you pull up. If you look like you're shaky or you look nervous and they're wound up- you don't need to be doing this job. People want their car, so I'm straight with them. If I've run the tag and the radio says that the tag owes tickets, nine times out of ten we're going to take the car. If they say that you're clean and no tickets are owed, I'll give it back to you. Then they know you're not kidding. If you look scared just because they ran up on you, people take advantage of that. They start yelling at you. Put my car down!And if you start looking even more nervous they know they're getting to you because they're acting crazy. They think the crazier they act, the more chance they have of me putting their car down. Whereas if you cut all that crap out from the beginning, then you just let them know this is what I'm going to do.

IMPOUND LOT CREW

YOLANDA DREHER Likes working with the public. Owns 11 dogs. Nickname is Yogi.¡¨

LARRY BERGER Has spent five years as a lot officer. Has two daughters, 21 and 17. Used to be a paperhanger. Has a second job as a bartender. Admits his daughter calls him a Grumpy Old Man.¡¨

HOW DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE PPA? I was in construction for twenty-five years. I retired from the wallpaper-hangers union, and I put an application in and I got hired here. I still tend bar on the weekends in a catering hall. We do weddings and parties.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE PPA? I have two kids in college and they'll both go to graduate school¡K I have one that just started college, so I got at least seven more years¡K until they make it big (laughs).

WHAT TRAITS DO YOU NEED TO DO THIS JOB WELL? You have to get along. We're here eight hours with each other. There are lots of times where you just want to grab somebody by the throat, but you can't. You just go in the bathroom and bang your head against the wall.

This is the busiest lot so you don't have time to chit-chat you know? You have to remember that this is their baby - their car. And they want their car. So you try to get them in and out, as painless as possible. I've been a bartender my whole life and this is sort of like tending a bar without giving out drinks. You give out their cars instead! You've got to be loose here, you can't be serious. You take your job serious but you got to keep people loose. And that's the way I am. Sometimes I'm funny at the window. My coworkers will get a big kick out of me. But sometimes I get yelled at by them too because I'm not so funny.

Source: A&E Press Release