what's behind the new ezpass?

Why did the dealer put the RFID in your car?!

I'm guessing you are describing the differences between the older TransCore transponder replaced with one of the new Kapsch transponders. It is basically the same thing from a cheaper vendor.

Future versions may have more car occupant spying tech, but I have not seen them yet.

Here's an article describing the usre of RFID by dealers
http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?8890

is swapping them? Ours are MD. They have only exchanged them once in the 10 years we've had them.

The vendor is the same, except previously the transponders were made by Mark IV (not Transcore). Kapsch has purchased Mark IV, so their name is now on the units. They have the same (old, battery using) technology but in a smaller, cheaper package.

I don't think any issuer is swapping transponders just for the newer design (G4), but as new ones are needed, they will get the newer units as the old units (G3 and earlier) are no longer produced. The E-ZPass Group orders them in bulk, and the agencies get their transponders from the same bulk order.

Also, they are issued by agencies, not states--some states have more than one issuer (e.g. DRJTBC in New Jersey and Pennsylvania).

Here's an explanation:

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/12/05/new-generation-o...

If you use a holder you will need to find a new one.

I can see how it helps car dealers give good service. Owners can opt out by removing the RFID tag from the car. Its use should be disclosed to and agreed by owners. Data should be kept private and not shared with others who could use the tags to read it and identify owners (though of course there's nothing to prevent car dealers from sharing owner data anyway, and of course the registration tag can often be tied to owners as well).

Consider that many car dealers with loans out to owners and car rental agencies use GPS to identify the car's location in case they or their agents need to recover a vehicle--that seems a bigger threat to privacy to me because there the car's location can be seen 365/24/7 wherever the car is.

Can you spell repo?!

If you are in Virginia, maybe because the new Northern VA HOV lanes need a transponder with something additional?

Just a guess..I heard something in the media about it. I live in MD and have Mass EZ passes, myself. No swaps for me yet.

Certainly make it easy to find...

Ron

"There is nothing more helpless and irresponsible than a man in the depths of an ether binge."
Hunter S. Thompson