Towing Issues: Reasonable Towing Fees from Private Lot, New Hope PA, new hope pa, tow fee

Question
New Hope, PA.  9 PM, Friday.  My nephew parked in private lot without noticing the signs.  We were walking down the street  and he saw his Dad's car being towed and ran after it.   Quite the sight.  We drove him to the service station.  

They wanted $340 cash to "early release" the car.  The tow fee (about 1 mile) was $125.  The dolly fee was $50.  The storage fee was $40, the early release fee was $75.  And there was another $60 on an item or two I can't remember.

I told the night clerks that the fee was excessive.  We left and took him home.  His Dad will pick up the car tomorrow for $304 -- I guess that's that's less the early release fee and plus some storage.

Are these fees usual and customary?

Answer
Well from what I see here, most of this looks good, and the early release (also called a gate fee, or after hours release fee) is pretty much standard in the industry for when the customer wants access to the vehicle anytime other than "normal business hours"..

Yes towing companies are a 24 / 7 business but they have normal business hours when the office is staffed and open. The fee covers someone to come in and do the paperwork involved to release the vehicle and open the gate.

I am just wondering what the extra fees where for..  Now I know that in some areas of the country that tow companies have "administrative fees" which cover the legal notification costs of the registered and legal owners and there are also some areas where the local police charge the tow company to receive information that the vehicle was towed so the Police do not take a stolen vehicle report (think of that as a hidden tax)

As to the cash only, that is still pretty much standard in the towing business for dealing with vehicles towed for illegal parking... Checks, Credit and Debit cards all can be "cancelled or stop payment" on, and cash can not be cancelled..
WHY IS THIS?

Well think about it, you parked and got towed and you are mad that they wanted money to do this... I bet you would not pay for the service if you had a choice...

So with out cash payment you can bet it is going to sit in the storage yard...

And yes I do know that in some areas the rules, regulations, and laws regarding towing vehicles from private property do specify that checks and cards be accepted. But that is not common.