privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

[Deviant Ollam]

i know we've talked about EZ Pass before on the forums. so i'm betting some folk here can appreciate what i'm seeking to do.

i use EZ Pass. i keep my transponder in a small faraday bag in my center console. i pull it out each time i want to pass through a toll lane. this is getting annoying.

but i do not want to use one of the "typical" windshield holders. i don't like them because (A) they look kind of ugly, with the big, white block of the tag up there and (B) they don't afford me the simple "transmit only when i want" convenience of my current tactic.

i do not like having my tag register on the various traffic-monitoring readers that are deployed on many non-toll highways and bridges, hence the shielding 99% of the time.

i was in a rental car once that had a WONDERFUL system... it was a small, discreet black box mounted up behind the rear view mirror. this contained an EZ Pass transponder on a slide-out rack which could be pulled laterally by the driver. the box appeared to be constructed with shielding, because a sticker upon it indicated that rental drivers who had opted to use EZ Pass (as part of their rental plan) could deploy it, while others should leave the little black box fully closed.

i have looked online a lot for this holder but can't find it. does anyone have any insight into who might make it or where i could find one? it seems so perfectly convenient for me since it's in line with what i am seeking and also because it's so tastefully done in black and looks nondescript.

[shrdlu]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

i was in a rental car once that had a WONDERFUL system... it was a small, discreet black box mounted up behind the rear view mirror. this contained an EZ Pass transponder on a slide-out rack which could be pulled laterally by the driver. the box appeared to be constructed with shielding, because a sticker upon it indicated that rental drivers who had opted to use EZ Pass (as part of their rental plan) could deploy it, while others should leave the little black box fully closed.

You don't say which rental car company, and which year. The state would also be helpful.

[Xeon]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

For an extremely low-tech solution, mount the device on the window side of your sun visor. Flip it down as you pass through, then back up again. It will at least prevent the traffic monitoring readers that you mentioned wanting to avoid, as the roof of your car will block the signal. This, of course, will not stop more creative reading strategies.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

You don't say which rental car company, and which year. The state would also be helpful.

heh... that was mostly due to my not remembering. it was pretty recent, last year's NotACon trip, i think. (had the transfer case dropped off of my truck at the time)

may have been Hertz, but i can't be certain.

For an extremely low-tech solution, mount the device on the window side of your sun visor. Flip it down as you pass through, then back up again. It will at least prevent the traffic monitoring readers that you mentioned wanting to avoid, as the roof of your car will block the signal.

i'll let others speak up if i'm incorrect (looking in Thorn's direction here) but i have very little confidence that this would reliably prevent the tag from being read.

[shrdlu]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

heh... that was mostly due to my not remembering. it was pretty recent, last year's NotACon trip, i think. (had the transfer case dropped off of my truck at the time)

may have been Hertz, but i can't be certain.

Sigh. This means (I suppose) that I should look up as to where (as in City/State) that would have been. Being a recluse has its disadvantages (such as not knowing where conferences I'm not going to anyway are held).

Hertz would be good, if so. I may try to check with them on Monday (if you haven't found an answer in the mean time). They are fond of me.

[Xeon]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

i'll let others speak up if i'm incorrect (looking in Thorn's direction here) but i have very little confidence that this would reliably prevent the tag from being read.

It won't provide the level of security I imagine you are after, but it will prevent the overhead traffic readers from reading. I regularly visit folks down in Denver who have the EZPass attached to their visor and if they don't flip it down, it won't read and open the gate. Given the traffic pattern readers use the same technology, it would block them. It won't prevent the tag from being read from the side.

[arahel_jazz]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

Last time I rented Avis in Chicago - they had a swivel type of arrangement. You swung it out when you wanted to use it. Unfortunately - they used velcro tape to secure the unit - which failed miserably. It was constantly falling out of the holder.

Last time I went through Denver - the tollway was a license plate reader. No RFID. And yes, it even billed me even though my license plate was out-of-state.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

Sigh. This means (I suppose) that I should look up as to where (as in City/State) that would have been.

i was renting in Philly, driving to Cleveland.

Tried my local offices, they were of little help. they know that their cars have them, but no one could think where they come from. i will likely just have to find the time to get over to a Hertz location and look closely at a unit to see if there's a manufacturer name or some such on the black casing.

[Xeon]

Re: privacy-conscious EZ Pass holder

Last time I rented Avis in Chicago - they had a swivel type of arrangement. You swung it out when you wanted to use it. Unfortunately - they used velcro tape to secure the unit - which failed miserably. It was constantly falling out of the holder.

Last time I went through Denver - the tollway was a license plate reader. No RFID. And yes, it even billed me even though my license plate was out-of-state.

Yea, but you can get a transponder if you want, then it is linked directly to your account and you don't get an individual bill each time you use the tollway.

Another option for you to achieve privacy:
The photos here suggest that it would be quite easy to add a kill switch to remove contact with the battery, preventing the unit from transmitting. However, I don't know if this would reset any memory or programming of the unit. If it doesn't clear anything, just switch it on when needed.