These aren’t big corporations. This was literally just a guy in a pickup truck and a few boots.
I paid because I wanted to get the boot off my car. I also then warned someone else away before they got a boot and the boot operator started screaming at me. All pretty shady.
If things work this way the solution seems to be relatively simple in that you put a boot on the booter's car and demand at least as much to take it off as the booter demands from you. When the booter approaches you to get his pound of flesh you take your pound of steel out of the boot (pun intended) and lock it to his truck. If he starts getting physical you call the cops and/or defend yourself. Given that this seems to be a form of legalised extortion it should be fought, not rewarded. Also, next time there is something to vote for vote for the politico who promises to do away with these practices.
I paid because I wanted to get the boot off my car. I also then warned someone else away before they got a boot and the boot operator started screaming at me. All pretty shady.