Battery-Free EZ Pass Stickers Could Be Coming To New Jersey
Whether you're taking the Parkway, the Turnpike, or trying to get into New York City or Philadelphia, all roads will eventually lead you to a toll booth in Jersey.
EZ Pass Has Made Driving Around NJ Easy And Convenient
Most of us at this point have an EZ Pass transponder somewhere in our car that just takes care of the tolls automatically for us. We don't have to think about how much change we need; we just drive through the toll booth, our transponder is scanned, matched up with our license plate, and we carry on.
A Change Is In The Works For What Your EZ Pass Transponder Looks Like
However, we could see some changes to the way our EZ Pass looks, and frankly, I'm all for it.
I mentioned this earlier in the year: EZ Pass was thinking of going from the traditional bulky plastic transponders to a sticker. More on that here. Since then, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has been beta testing these stickers on state vehicles and is looking to expand EZ Pass stickers to the general public.
Why EZ Pass Stickers Are The Right Move For New Jersey
Right now, when your EZ Pass transponder dies or stops working, you have no way of knowing. You all of a sudden just get hit with a ton of toll violations that can rack up to hundreds of dollars. Those violations can be disputed, of course; it just takes being on hold with EZ Pass for most of your day.
The new stickers that are looking to be rolled out don't use batteries, so they can't die, which would save a lot of frustration. The stickers, according to NJ.com, are plastic strips that contain an RFID chip and an antenna, and are activated when scanned. No batteries required.
When Will The New EZ Pass Transponders Roll Out?
If approved, the stickers are likely to roll out in early 2027. Massachusetts is apparently the first state in the country to use these stickers, and they got the replacement sticker for free. Fingers crossed, if this gets approved in Jersey, our transponder sticker is free too.
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Gallery Credit: Matt Ryan
