STICKER TRANSPONDER. The type of transponder that is rapidly gaining in popularity is a sticker-type transponder. As the name implies, this type of transponder is not manufactured with a large hard case form factor, but instead is a sticker or thin plastic strip containing the electronic toll tag. These sticker-type transponders have certain advantages over hard case transponders. They are smaller, less expensive (generally cost only a couple of dollars as compared to 20 dollars per unit for the hard case transponders), and are passive tags that do not require a battery. Also, they are not prone to the adhesion problems which hard case transponders experience as the Velcro (which attaches the hard case to the windshield) wears out over time. Generally, sticker-type transponders are placed on a vehicle’s windshield; however, there are variations that can be mounted outside on the vehicle’s bumper or headlamp. Heavy vehicles generally use external sticker tags on their license plates due to the elevated location of their windshields. E- 470 is currently in the process of switching the standard transponders for Colorado to a sticker transponder using an open protocol tag known as 6C. They expect to start issuing them late summer of 2011. The major difference between the sticker-type transponders and the hard case transponders is that sticker-type transponders currently cannot be physically switched to allow roadway users to perform self-declaration. Xxxxxxx are used in some locations to block the tag from being read by the wayside reader. Although the majority of sticker-type transponders are in fact stickers that must be permanently adhered to the vehicle, there are slight variations in the form. For example, the Washington State Department of Transportation Good to Go! program uses several forms of a sticker-type transponders. Sticker Pass – Simple sticker with a toll tag embedded into the sticker. The device is approximately the size of a Band-Aid and would typically be adhered to the windshield somewhere close to the rearview mirror. It is considered a permanent device in that it cannot be moved between vehicles. This transponder is the type that E-470 will primarily use when they switch to a sticker tag. Moveable Pass – This is essentially a simple sticker that is adhered to a long thin piece of plastic. The moveable pass has Velcro pieces that allow it to be adhered to the windshield when in use, but also allows it to be moved and placed in a different vehicle. The devi...
