varanelli

I need SmartTag (here in N. VA) almost daily and EZPass for occasional trips further north. However, these small white-colored tags on the inside of my windshield near the rear view mirror clashed with my ebony interior.

So, I decided to paint it with matte black spray paint. It is now much less conspicuous, and the paint does not interfere with the tag being read at toll plazas (I tested it this morning at four different sites on the Dulles Toll Road).

TooLate

I have EZPASS, the first day I got it years ago I colored it with a black Sharpy marker, I never had a problem with reception.

One very important thing to remember, USE BLACK VELCRO OR DOUBLE SIDED TAPE!

Lore

I put mine in the first compartment under the radio. Works great.

VQ35DE

Just get the front plate transponder instead. That's what I have on my Maxima.

Lore

That sounds like you can't take it from car to car though. With my FasTrak transponder I can take it from any of my registered cars to another. And having it in the little compartment works well!

VQ35DE

I have one for each car so, it's only and "issue" if I bought another car.

TooLate

I guess it depends where you live and where you drive to... But around here those are a horrible idea. I read in the paper all the time how another EXPASS got stolen off the license plate.

TLXLR8S

it works if you leave it in that compartment?

VQ35DE

I havent heard much about that here in NJ. Doesnt make too much sense since it can be somewhat tracked via tolls and/or deactivated.

TooLate

Hood ornaments didn't have much of a use either, but people always stole those

roadman

Thats why crooks are not to bright, their is a camera in each toll booth and will catch your plate number, vehicle description and maybe even the drivers description. Once you call in and report your tag stolen the thief may as well just throw it away, the tag is a ticket to the pokey.

Thorin78

I saw someone that had a hookup on his windshield for his ez-pass. It used suction cups rather than the hard velcro. Has anyone else seen those? I'd rather get the suction cups so I don't have to stick something on the windshield.

roadman

With EZPass you get as many as you want with each account, I have 3 listed on my one account, 2 cars and Motorcycle

TLXLR8S

i see it all the time in a gas station i go to. they have white and black ones. its like $5-6

BelTelMel

In which paper is it that you read this all the time? I have an external tag on my TL as do a couple of co-workers and have not had or heard of any theft problems. The problem more likely to occur is the possibility of the transponder breaking if someone backs up into you hard enough. The tags are installed with tamp-proof screws that are not removeable by tools without cutting them off. It would be more time consuming than breaking the window and grabbing the tag most people don't bother to remove from the windshield.

varanelli

That's a solution also. However, I'm pretty sure that would not work with EZPass here on the east coast; the signal probably would not be picked up at the toll plaza. The transponders must be slightly different or something.

Incidentally, EZPass and SmartTag are supposed to become "interchangable" this fall.

jzinckgra

And for you northern folks, Maine is also switching to EZ pass this November. Going from MA to ME should be a breeze now. At least at the tolls

RicciRich

I just keep mine in the compartment under my stereo and pull it out when necessary.

VQ35DE

Hood ornaments typically cant be tracked electronically. I'm more concerned about my HIDs being snatched than my EZ Pass transponder.

itsnorm

Isn't it against EZ Pass' rules to paint the transponder?

varanelli

Probably.

ibeplato

FYI: Smarttag & EazyPass will soon be interoperable, you will only need one transmitter which will work on both systems.

varanelli

Right. See my post from two days ago.

marquis

I don't think it's against any "rules" per se, but they do not recommend painting it as they claim it may interfere with proper operation. Whether it's true or not is another story.

varanelli

I do not notice a difference in responsiveness with SmartTag. However, I do think that the response time is a bit slower with a painted EZPass, based on a short trip from Connecticut to Long Island this weekend.

BigBluu

Thanks for the tip. I used to put it in the top compartment in the armrest, but the radio compartment's easier to access as I need to get it out for the GG Bridge. For some reason, it never reads on that bridge in either location. Does it work for you? No problems on the Bay Bridge though.

SidS1045

The tolls in New Hampshire are also getting EZ-Pass sometime soon.