EzPass Jerks!

[Hawkman]

Ok, living in the NY/Metro area I recently signed up of EzPass, after years of resistance. In sign up and order two tags, one internal for the car and one external for the bike (since there is no inside, right?) I was worried that the external tag would not go on the bike, but the only thing the EzPass people and website say is that "Motorcycles are eligible for EzPass". So the things arrive, Tuesday. I was feeling great... I should have known that nothing is ever that simple. I go to put attach the "external" tag to the plate, and I was thinking that it looked big for the plate, but there was a sticker on it that said "Motorcycle", surely the good people at EzPass would never mislead me in such wanton maner. Lo and behold, too big for the plate. I wanted to murder someone. So I call them up, and after 3 times being hung-up on (I'm not kidding..3 times), I get to talk to a real live human! Oh, happy day! This exceeding helpful woman tells me that the only way that motorcyclist use EzPass is by keeping it in a breast pocket. Even if that was true (which I can't believe), don't you think that is something that OUGHT TO BE ON THE DAMNED FAQ's! And to top it all off, when EzPass sent my tags in the mail, I GOT CHARGED for the tolls that the MAIL TRUCK took to deliver them to me (GWB & NJ Turnpike). EzPass is not starting out on my good side. That'll teach me to be trusting.

Anyway, I was wondering how people use EzPass (or FastLane or other automatic toll payment systems)? This breast pocket thing for real? I can guess that a tank bag is sort of the same thing. Do people use it like that? I am thinking of velcro-ing the tag to the inside of the windscreen, though I am wary about losing it. Does attaching it to the screen sound like a bad idea?

Hope everyone has better luck with EzPass than I have had!

[ScooterCop]

I have the white ezpass with the "M" on it attached to the windshield with the heavy duty "velcro". I've never had a problem with it registering at a toll, or with it falling off. You can just see it on the screen.

[jfslater98]

I've gone with the DJ mod

As in, my EZ pass is sitting on my desk at home. Whaaa? you ask. As long as you register each of your vehicles on the EZpass web site, you can put them all on onc account.

Is it somewhat upsetting to see "Tag not read, proceed"? A bit. The technology is such that every license plate is read as you go through. The system figures out you're a paying customer and all is well.

I've even been so lazy as to forget a car. I got a "ticket" in the mail, with a photo of me driving through. On the back of the form there is a "if you have an EZ pass account, please fill out the info here".

I've not gotten one extra charge (yet) for not having the tag on me. So leave those things at home, and use the space on your bars for something useful. Like a cup holder

YMMV

[jacksgp]

First I must vent...NY sucks..goverment not people or state. WE have beautiful roads, great scenery, wonderful places to visit but a extremely disfunctional goverment. OK.. I feel better now.
EZ Pass...I tie wrap mine on the front of my bike on my tool bag which I have mounted to my front forks, back side facing front. It did not work in my pocket as I thought It should. Why do they give you that silver bag to store it in if you don,t want the toll to read it? I also called and have not been as lucky as you to get a english speaking person to remendy this situation. I have seen other bikes with the velco and that seems to work as well. I did purchase one of those EZ pass holders that attach to your windshield via suction cups and last I saw it was flying past me about 60mph going down the road. Luckily I did not have my ez pass in it at the time. Sorry for the rant, NY gov can do that to you! Ride Safe!!!

[Ves]

I just slap mine (the one I got for the car) in the tank bag. Yes, I could register my motorcycle. No I haven't done it. Why should they care what vehicle I'm driving as long as they're getting their money?

[Boris Badenov]

I just slap mine (the one I got for the car) in the tank bag. Yes, I could register my motorcycle. No I haven't done it. Why should they care what vehicle I'm driving as long as they're getting their money?

Dude!
get one that is specified for the bike. It is twice chipper then a car...

[NoRRmad]

I keep mine in my breast pocket, and it only occasionally reads properly. Still, I guess they look at the license-plate photo and the charge appears on my statement OK. I have a theory that the radio-frequency reader has a very limited range; I seem to get good reads if I really crowd the toll-bar, move the bike forward as far as it will go.

[rdsmith3]

This seems to be a different experience for everyone, but here are my thoughts. I ride a lot in NJ, so YMMV.

First, do not take the advice of "leave it at home". There are some bridges that have gates at the toll line, and you need the EZ pass to raise the gate. The bridge on I-78 from NJ to PA is one example of such a place.

Second, in NJ, on all the roads I ride on (GSP most of the time) there is no discount for motorcycles, so it makes no difference which device you have.

Based on the above, I had to find a way to mount a device on the bike, and have it work flawlessly. I believe I have accomplished that.

My EZ Pass would not work reliably in my jacket pocket or in my tank bag. I did not want to put it on the windshield because someone could steal it (hey, this is the greater NYC metro area).

So, I got the external/license plate version of the transponder. This is the black one that mounts to a front license plate, for cars whose windshield composition prevents the interior transponder from being read correctly.

I mounted the license plate version with zip ties under the fender of my bike. It is the perfect width -- the license plate holes are just a bit narrower than the fork legs -- and it is completely concealed. The EZ pass system picks up this transponder 100% of the time, and I never have to think about it. It also has the advantage of being made for external use.

This works really well for me.

[Buckster]

I have tried the pocket thing and it works about half the time. I was putting it in the top of the tank bag and that worked about 99% of the time although I had to come to a complete stop most of the time. I think because it layed flat in the tank bag it didn't always trip. I have a pocket on the back side of the tank bag and this has worked every time because it sits vertical.
You may want to use the "excact change" lane if your tolls are gated. You do not want to stop in the e-z pass lane only if it doesn't trip and have some creep cream you.

[challey]

It appears to me that the EZ Pass situation varies quite a bit from state. My home state, PA, does not offer the external, license plate version. What they sent me is identical to the one for cars, except that the back side (the side that would be facing out if it were mounted on a windscreen), has "MC" in large block letters. Obviously, the reason for this is to discourage using the motorcycle pass in your car. The instructions with the EZ Pass tell you to mount it vertically on your windscreen using the "dual lock" fasteners provided. I ignored that advice, which was particularly unhelpful since I did not have a windscreen, and simply put the pass in my jacket breast pocket or in my tank bag (vertically).

My experience is about the same as Buckster's: It works probably 99% of the time if I slow down enough. This becomes a real heart-in-throat exercise sometimes, to wit, the Henry Hudson Pkwy through the Bronx, which not only has gates at the toll boths but also the world's most aggressive drivers 6" from your rear tire.

Charlie

[Doug]

I know a bit about RFID technology because I work with it at my job. The reason it may not read well in your breast pocket is because your body, which is full of water, acts like a huge attenuator and will deaded the signal. RF does not like water! Additionally if you mount the tag to metal, it will also hurt the tag's reading ability becuase the metal will either reflect the signal, or if its close, absorb it. Sometimes you can use metal to increase your signal if you place the tag sufficiently far away from the metal surface. So, here are some tips for using a RFID tag like the ezpass:

-dont place it near metal if possible, especialy the center of the tag. If you must place it on metal, try and space it 1" or greatre away with some foam or a chunk of plastic.
-Dont place it near sources of RF interference (like an alternator or radio)
-orient the tag so the face of it is pointing right at the reader as you pass underneath it. RFID tags are generally more sensitive in one direction (or plane) so pointing the tag upwards at an angle towards the reader will give you a longer range.
-mounting the tag to plastic is ideal beacuse msot plastic is almost completely RF interferrence free.

Perhaps you can try mounting it undernear the beakster fender with some zip ties or 3m VHB tape (strong stuff!). That's where I'd try first because you cant see it, its completely RF transparent, its out there in front of the bike for early detection, and will provide the correct read angle to the ezpass reader if you place it towards the front of the beak.

[rdsmith3]

Perhaps you can try mounting it undernear the beakster fender with some zip ties or 3m VHB tape (strong stuff!). That's where I'd try first because you cant see it, its completely RF transparent, its out there in front of the bike for early detection, and will provide the correct read angle to the ezpass reader if you place it towards the front of the beak.

Yes, that is what I am saying works 100% of the time for me. I have mine under the fender. It works!

[P_Jensen]

I bought a Ram Mount EzPass Holder at the Cycle World Show in New York two years ago, it can be mounted to the handlebars or a mirror. I used the Mirror Mount Model, the difference is they include a rubber bushing to reduce the diameter of the mounting hole. I mounted it on the right side touring screen mounting bracket. The windshield protects it from debris and I use the same Tag for both the car and the bike. http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/pr ... /3008/446/

[Boris Badenov]

Perhaps you can try mounting it undernear the beakster fender with some zip ties or 3m VHB tape (strong stuff!). That's where I'd try first because you cant see it, its completely RF transparent, its out there in front of the bike for early detection, and will provide the correct read angle to the ezpass reader if you place it towards the front of the beak.

Yes, that is what I am saying works 100% of the time for me. I have mine under the fender. It works!

I’ve had this setup for awhile. Works well but not every time and when it doesn’t – conversation with MTA authorities becomes slightly awkward

For some reason when time came to replace the tag EZpass refused to send me an external model and I got a regular one with letter M in front… which kind of sucks…

[Kazushi]

There is no EZpass tag for motorcycles in these parts, our version is a magnetic card that we simply hand to the toll booth guy
So the breast pocket work well

In any case, if I had to mount a tag I would try the fender...

Ride Safe !
Demetre

[GypsyRR]

It appears to me that the EZ Pass situation varies quite a bit from state.

Apparently it really does! Here, you have to have a tag for each vehicle you own. No moving the tag from car to car or to motorcycle - they catch you every time.

[rdsmith3]

Perhaps you can try mounting it undernear the beakster fender with some zip ties or 3m VHB tape (strong stuff!). That's where I'd try first because you cant see it, its completely RF transparent, its out there in front of the bike for early detection, and will provide the correct read angle to the ezpass reader if you place it towards the front of the beak.

Yes, that is what I am saying works 100% of the time for me. I have mine under the fender. It works!

I’ve had this setup for awhile. Works well but not every time and when it doesn’t – conversation with MTA authorities becomes slightly awkward

For some reason when time came to replace the tag EZpass refused to send me an external model and I got a regular one with letter M in front… which kind of sucks…

You do not necessarily have to get your EZ Pass tag from your state of residence. Perhaps you could try another state to get the transponder you want?

The thing that annoys me about NJ is that they instituted a monthly service fee, regardless of activity. Don't these things save the state money by having fewer toll booth takers? So why do they charge me a service fee?

[Buckster]

We are supposed to have one for every vehicle too but I take mine with me. Never had a problem so far in 2 years.

[P_Jensen]

NH Dot program allows you to to list up to 4 vehicles on each tag. I have my truck, car, bike, and trailer all listed for my tag. The Mass Fast Lane program also allows 4 as well. Requiring a tag for each vehicle is all about REVENUE, I can only operate one vehicle at a time so why should I pay for more than one tag.

[Ves]

I just slap mine (the one I got for the car) in the tank bag. Yes, I could register my motorcycle. No I haven't done it. Why should they care what vehicle I'm driving as long as they're getting their money?

Dude!
get one that is specified for the bike. It is twice chipper then a car...

I wish... not in IL. Motorcycles pay same as cars...