not true. One is allowed to use the tag in a rental car. The toll authorities say the above, and also, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ADD THE RENTAL CAR’s REGISTRATION ONTO YOUR ACCOUNT.
I don´t see the provision for that in my account. But even if that is so, they must have a way to know it is a rental, maybe by the plate? I can´t see where you can just give it to a friend or use it in an unregistered non-rental car. Maybe they don´t care. But I don´t see that anywhere in my account.
NY certainly does. They also use AI to predict behavior based on vehicle movement.
btw there was some scary story in upstate NY, where they went from toll booths to automated tolling by plate (where gantrys are installed to read tags and plates). Due to the misreads, some people racked up bills plus fines to the tune of $1,000+ in a month, over a $1 per trip toll, and all they were doing was going to work. They became exasperated trying to fight the NYS Thruway. This was always a "fear" when I use a tag in a rental car. Plus, rental cars often tack on an administrative fee per rental period. Say you have a $1 toll. You rent the car for 3-7 days. Could be $11 etc. for that. Which is why I've always used my own tag on a rental....
The one with the low SN is probably a turn-in that got refurb/new battery and re-issued.
I guess now with automated tolling more scenarios where no acknowledgment of tolls paid. But PA was particularly annoying where with regular toll booths no indication at all.
I only realized mine was dead (or dying) when I started looking at the online transactions and seeing that my charges weren't showing up until three-four weeks later, instead of same-day like they normally were. I don't know what their procedure is, maybe someone goes through countless hours of film footage to match up plate numbers with transponder accounts, or what, but they never dinged me for an unpaid toll. A new transponder got everything back to functioning normally.
I had a prepaid balance on my IL EZ pass account of around $60. I was using it a lot at the time. Then quit driving on the tollways. So asked for a refund. The credit card I used to originally charge the refund with had been closed so they could not issue a refund. They could not refund my money unless I closed the account. So I had to send in the transponder, wait for them to approve it as working and then they closed the account and sent me a check. I then reopened a new account and put $20 on it and got a new transponder.NJ E-ZPass customer service story. I crossed the bridge 18x in April with the same tag. OK. This means I should get an $18 discount. Haven't done such since pre-pandemic, just want to be sure it's all good.
Called in to check. Called in 2X, 25 min on hold both times. Someone called me back as well, left a voicemail.
Through all of the above, nobody really knew when I would see a discount. It posted today. The last conversation was to wait 30 days. OK from what date? From the last toll. OK, that means 5/30, no problem.
They were all nice, but it's mind-boggling how they don't have the needed tools to do their jobs. Now, this is a credit. Can you imagine if you had thousands in erroneous tolls...yikes
Years ago I got off at a obscure Florida exit that only took change, or maybe I didn't have my Sun pass at that point. It was like 50 cents but I kept feeding it quarters and it never lit up as paid. There was a big sign warning that unpaid tolls would be fined, and a small sign with a phone number. Took a photo of the phone number and drove on through. I called the number and left a message on what happened, my license plate and a message that I expected not to be fined.NJ E-ZPass customer service story. I crossed the bridge 18x in April with the same tag. OK. This means I should get an $18 discount. Haven't done such since pre-pandemic, just want to be sure it's all good.
Called in to check. Called in 2X, 25 min on hold both times. Someone called me back as well, left a voicemail.
Through all of the above, nobody really knew when I would see a discount. It posted today. The last conversation was to wait 30 days. OK from what date? From the last toll. OK, that means 5/30, no problem.
They were all nice, but it's mind-boggling how they don't have the needed tools to do their jobs. Now, this is a credit. Can you imagine if you had thousands in erroneous tolls...yikes
I dunno if my dad was made of Teflon or what. He'd have issues, then write letters. He'd usually get a letter back with a favorable outcome. Two that come to memory was City of Boston and multiple tickets. He said he didn't understand the signs and would appreciate it if the fines were waived. To me, all it is, is taking all the rules shown by the signs, and applying them all, to determine, can I park here or not. Not that complicated, I mean he was an aeronautical engineer. So I thought good luck dad. Letter came back saying fines waved, please be more careful in the future. Another one was the Garden State Parkway where he didn't have change (I truly recall toll was 30 cents--we could google to see when that was). Fine and toll waivedYears ago I got off at a obscure Florida exit that only took change, or maybe I didn't have my Sun pass at that point. It was like 50 cents but I kept feeding it quarters and it never lit up as paid. There was a big sign warning that unpaid tolls would be fined, and a small sign with a phone number. Took a photo of the phone number and drove on through. I called the number and left a message on what happened, my license plate and a message that I expected not to be fined.
I got a call back the next day. I nice lady said no issue - Canadians come down and using Canadian quarters jam the machine. Happens all the time
I missed this one, it's the FiOS conundrum. Even though the equipment (the ONT) is rented, the end user is responsible for the batteries which last I checked were in the $40 ballpark. So now in this case, user is responsible for CR2032s, saving the tolling authority big time. This includes new tags, mailing back and forth, and even worse, manned customer service centers.I don't know about E-ZPass per se, but it's my understanding that the different agencies/states have used different technology over the years.
I wouldn't necessarily worry about serial numbers. My guess would be that they reuse older ones when the batteries die, and don't need to redo the serial numbers. Or they could just be recycling older serial numbers.
I know of one agency in California's FasTrak system that had transponders with a battery hatch and an indication that they used normal CR2032 batteries, with the expectation that the user will pay for batteries rather than return them just to get one with a fresh battery.. I think previous versions used even bigger batteries.
However, some have taken apart different battery powered transponders and found that they typically contained special high-temp rated lithium primary cells.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/anyone-know-much-about-toll-transponder-batteries.303243/
A lot of agencies around the country are using RFID sticker based tech. Or perhaps some of the newer ones don't have batteries but use some sort of system powered by incoming RF.
For the last few years, new FasTrak transponders have been batteryless. They don't beep. The latest version is a small RFID sticker that goes on the inside of the windshield. The older hardcase transponders had either a non-replaceable lithium battery or a replaceable coin cell depending on the model.I don't know about E-ZPass per se, but it's my understanding that the different agencies/states have used different technology over the years.
I wouldn't necessarily worry about serial numbers. My guess would be that they reuse older ones when the batteries die, and don't need to redo the serial numbers. Or they could just be recycling older serial numbers.
I know of one agency in California's FasTrak system that had transponders with a battery hatch and an indication that they used normal CR2032 batteries, with the expectation that the user will pay for batteries rather than return them just to get one with a fresh battery.. I think previous versions used even bigger batteries.
However, some have taken apart different battery powered transponders and found that they typically contained special high-temp rated lithium primary cells.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/anyone-know-much-about-toll-transponder-batteries.303243/
A lot of agencies around the country are using RFID sticker based tech. Or perhaps some of the newer ones don't have batteries but use some sort of system powered by incoming RF.
I would expect many individuals to get themselves in a predicament by forgetting to remove the sticker when trading in or selling their vehicles in the future. I wonder if the glass shops can transfer the sticker to a replacement windshield or whether a new sticker must be procured?
Spiritual transponders stickers?
The transponder sticker can be removed but it will be rendered permanently useless.
