Parking Enforcement Officer Spotlight: Carlton Jones
Philadelphians a
The PEOs of the PPA are cursed out, spit on and threatened on a daily basis. They have no choice but to take it. They know it comes with the job, but they also know what their job really means. There’s more to these ladies and gentlemen than a badge and a ticketing pad. Under the uniform are unique personalities, representing all walks of life from Philadelphia. They are Philadelphia’s first line of friendliness, willingly and humbly serving our city. It’s time we all get to know the real life of a PEO.
Carlton Jones stands at average height, very much in shape with salt and pepper hair and kind eyes. He has the passion of a Philadelphian and a people-person personality. He’s exactly the type of person you’d want representing our city.
Initially interested in a career in law enforcement, he knew from day one that he wanted to work for the city. Eventually, he came across a job at the PPA and never looked back.
“For me to last 26 years, I have to be really happy with the company,” explains Carlton, “I like walking, it keeps me in shape. I like being out in the public, so it’s perfect for me.”
When it comes to ticketing, Carlton is stationed all over the map. He’s served down on South Street before and loved it. Now, during the week he patrols along Spring Garden, a more quiet and peaceful area that makes his job easier. On Saturdays during overtime though, he usually works K&A, which provides a lot more excitement.
As a seasoned PEO, Carlton has seen the good and the bad throughout the city. One of his first experiences on duty, a man told him just what he’d do if he ever caught Carlton ticketing him again. The next time Carlton ticketed him, the man jumped through his car window and started choking him. Carlton tried to drive away but they ended up crashing.
Like the positive, warm-hearted person he is though, he laughs it off, exclaiming, “And that was when tickets were only $10!”
Carlton takes the negative experiences with a grain of salt because, he realizes the importance of parking management. “It would be lawless, like the wild west. There would be chaos without parking enforcement,” he says.
Chaos on Philly’s streets comes in all forms, and Carlton does his best to combat it. One of the first steps to combating parking problems is helping to make sure people understand. The biggest mistake he sees people make is feeding the wrong meter. When he sees this, he explains to the individual what they can do to avoid this situation next time. He acknowledges how complex Philadelphia’s signage and parking system is, and does his best to help people understand.
He’s found that a lot of people appreciate this. Just the other day a woman approached him to thank him, saying, “I really appreciate you guys … because, without the Parking Authority people would park their cars [wherever] and leave them there.”
Aside from combatting chaos where he finds it, Carlton steps up in other ways as a PEO. He works as an ambassador to Philadelphia, helping people get where they need to go. Giving directions can get tricky—even he can get lost in the city.
This leads him to believe that “… the best invention that they ever could’ve came out with was Google Maps.” Just like millions of others Philadelphians, he relies on technology to help him with his job.
Carlton has also acted as a security guard. People see the badge and ask him to stand with them while they use the ATM as a reassurance.
Outside of his job, Carlton loves hitting the gym right after his shift. He also enjoys spending time with his family in the Olney section of the city. On his days off, you’ll find him surfing the Internet for new things to read and learn. Carlton enjoys doing this because he is a firm believer that people should learn something new everyday. This kind of drive and dedication is what makes Carlton such a valuable asset to the PPA and to the City of Brotherly Love.