Philadelphia Parking Wars
I'm kinda obsessed with Parking Wars, a new show on A&E. It's a show following around what is probably the most hated corporation in all of Philly, the Philadelphia Parking Authority. [Shot above from 10xx Spruce St]
Just about everyone I know in Philly has had run ins with the PPA, car owners or not. In the first 3 months of living in Philly, I think Lady and I got 3 tickets and a tow. One of those tickets were for the dubious "parking too close to the curb" which is so subjective and block to block, car to car, agent by agent, it's not even funny.
My beef with the PPA is with management and the people on the ground so no sympathy from me for either side. The show portrays the situation here in Philly pretty well. It shows the citizens in the right and in the wrong. It shows the agents heartless and helpful. All the while it's entertaining and funny. It shoots with the on-foot agents, the tow trucks, the boot trucks and at the lot on Oregon Ave.
I don't think they've shown South Philly much yet. I'm not sure the PPA would want to show that area of town. It would be a little too much in your face hypocrisy. Double and triple parking all over the place. The lawn chairs in front of houses blocking off spaces. The parking in the middle of Broad St. [Shot above from Broad/Shunk]
We've seen most of the episodes and eagerly await watching the rest. The show gives Lady more than a slight case of agita, she says. I end up yelling at the TV at the idiot citizens and the blockhead agents quite a bit.
The show is on Tuesdays at 10p, but reruns are on all the time in hour blocks. Clips of episodes can be seen here. The clip for Episode 1 sums it up for me.
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February 8th, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
ohmygod. even those minute long clips had my stress levels soaring. i could never watch that show.
February 11th, 2008 @ 9:56 am
Let's not forget, it's the STATE-RUN parking authority.
February 12th, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Too Close to the curb? I can't even fathom the logic of that, seriously.
Wait….no, sorry… It's not coming.
My head hurts.
February 12th, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
I love that show. Makes the PPA seem human and curbs my anger management against them.
February 29th, 2008 @ 10:31 pm
Have I got one for you… Last Tuesday I got pulled over with an expired tag from VA (I know my fault but it was due in Dec and with holidays etc I totally forgot) and on top of that I had to have my windshield replaced and when it was they did not put the inspection sticker back. I recently moved here and was in the process of slowly getting things changed over,, well I got pulled over, my car was towed and I had to get a PA Drivers lic and tag for my car, until that I could not get the car, as of this moment I still do not have my car, My first run in with the PENNDOT and DMV, they would not accept my SS Card they said it was mutilated, then they would not accept my Birth Certificate, so I had to order a New SS Card, and Birth Certificate, I get my Birth Certificate Today and go get my License, then go to a Tag Office to get a tag etc. Well NO SUCH LUCK.. bcz my car is still financed, and I did not have the actual title I could not get a tag, so I called the finance company and got the process started to get a title sent to the Tag Facility, then I go to the traffic Court to find out what I needed to do about tickets etc until I could get the tag, I go to the Boot and Tow window and was told, I either needed to have the car put in someone elses name to get the tag and get it out of storage bcz if the "Storage" of the car goes over 30 days at the PPA storage facility they will sell it or get my registration. NO ONE AT ANY FACILITY TOLD ME ANY THING of this until over a week later and after taking time from work etc trying to get this resolved. Never have I had anything be so difficult, hell I took 2.5 yrs of mathematics in college and it was never this hard. Now bcz of this I will have daily "storage fees" adding up along with the cost of tags, lic, etc. I am from the south and I am told by individuals here that the south is screwed up.. WHAT A JOKE.. if this is the way this state and city operates no wonder the streets look like shit, the schools are in disarray, and the citizens hate the PPA and such. There was not one individual that could give me an answer to resolve this and make things easier for all parties involved. IT IS A GREEDY POWER THAT CARES FOR NOTHING BUT LINING ITS OWN POCKETS.
August 5th, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
I know this post was put up months ago, but I do want to direct your readers to http://www.gophila.com/parking and http://www.gophila.com/parkingdeals. We're trying to make it easier for visitors and residents alike to park in Philly… hopefully they'll never have to be on camera!
December 14th, 2010 @ 11:36 am
I'll tell you something, after watching parking wars – I WILL NEVER GO TO NOR CHOOSE TO LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA…too much…like living in a police state! I guess it is.
June 6th, 2011 @ 10:39 pm
I just watch the show on Netflix. I am from Detroit and I no longer live there and I tell you I will never ever go to philadelphia not even to visit. I follow the law but they are ridiculous and they enjoy it! 10 percent are nice the other 90 percent are evil! They are even rude to visitors who parked where there was no sign and the fees are terrible!