Replaced old "EZ-Tag" with new "EZ-Tag sticker" - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

RonRyan85 · 12-27-2006, 04:59 PM

I replaced our old EZ-Tag today (Plastic electronic device
with small 3v.battery) with a thin decal-like sticker as per
instructions from HCTRA and will mail old one back to Co.

New one has a small bump under the back. Anyone
know what this is? Maybe a tiny chip that is what
makes it work? Needs no battery like old one. The
"Man" can tell everything about your travels on the
freeway when the sticker-chip is scanned?(What if
this chip was inserted under a person's skin? The
government would never do that....would they?)

Redlemon · 12-28-2006, 07:36 AM

So, I guess you can't use the new tag with a rental car? Hope ours don't get replaced like that as well.

(BTW, is this an "electronics" or "paranoia" thread question? It'll help to focus the responses.)

n0nsensical · 12-28-2006, 08:04 AM

I'm guessing you're talking about an RFID tag. the ones with no batteries are powered by EM energy emitted by the reader. Yes, anyone with a reader can tell where you are if they can read the chip. in order to read the chip it usually has to be within fairly close range of the reader so that it can get enough energy to transmit.

your post was a bit short on details so I'm just guessing this is a device used for toll collection, but usually the ones used in vehicles for that purpose have batteries ("active") because an active transmitter can generally be read from much farther away since it's not reliant on whatever power it can get out of the "air". so i would be kind of surprised to hear that you have a passive device meant to be read from a moving vehicle, but I suppose it's possible.

if it was inserted under the skin the same thing would happen, they could charge you tolls and track where you're going.

i understand this is already being done to pets. but no, of course the government would never come up with any nefarious spying schemes. in any case, you can probably prevent it from being read by enclosing it in a piece of aluminum foil or any conducting container. it's the tags you don't know about that should worry you.

RonRyan85 · 12-28-2006, 07:41 PM

Thanks to both of you for responding to my question
and comment. Yes, the window sticker is for a car's
winshield to use on a tollway here in Houston. The
instruction sheet says that this EZ-tag is of the 2nd
generation and does not require a battery. (I know
of the chips put under the skin of pets and have
heard of some programs on late night radio that tell
about RFID chips that are used in stores and other
data gathering.) Maybe the 3rd generation chips will
be super small and be as big as this dot. (I'm not
worried about being tracked......just curious about
how the things work.)

12-27-2006, 04:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
RonRyan85 Insane Location: Lone Star State,USA	Replaced old "EZ-Tag" with new "EZ-Tag sticker" I replaced our old EZ-Tag today (Plastic electronic device with small 3v.battery) with a thin decal-like sticker as per instructions from HCTRA and will mail old one back to Co. New one has a small bump under the back. Anyone know what this is? Maybe a tiny chip that is what makes it work? Needs no battery like old one. The "Man" can tell everything about your travels on the freeway when the sticker-chip is scanned?(What if this chip was inserted under a person's skin? The government would never do that....would they?) Last edited by RonRyan85; 12-27-2006 at 05:12 PM..

12-28-2006, 07:36 AM	#2 (permalink)
Redlemon Devoted Donor Location: New England	So, I guess you can't use the new tag with a rental car? Hope ours don't get replaced like that as well. (BTW, is this an "electronics" or "paranoia" thread question? It'll help to focus the responses.) __________________ I can't read your signature. Sorry.

12-28-2006, 08:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
n0nsensical Junkie Location: San Francisco	I'm guessing you're talking about an RFID tag. the ones with no batteries are powered by EM energy emitted by the reader. Yes, anyone with a reader can tell where you are if they can read the chip. in order to read the chip it usually has to be within fairly close range of the reader so that it can get enough energy to transmit. your post was a bit short on details so I'm just guessing this is a device used for toll collection, but usually the ones used in vehicles for that purpose have batteries ("active") because an active transmitter can generally be read from much farther away since it's not reliant on whatever power it can get out of the "air". so i would be kind of surprised to hear that you have a passive device meant to be read from a moving vehicle, but I suppose it's possible. if it was inserted under the skin the same thing would happen, they could charge you tolls and track where you're going. i understand this is already being done to pets. but no, of course the government would never come up with any nefarious spying schemes. in any case, you can probably prevent it from being read by enclosing it in a piece of aluminum foil or any conducting container. it's the tags you don't know about that should worry you.

12-28-2006, 07:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
RonRyan85 Insane Location: Lone Star State,USA	Thanks to both of you for responding to my question and comment. Yes, the window sticker is for a car's winshield to use on a tollway here in Houston. The instruction sheet says that this EZ-tag is of the 2nd generation and does not require a battery. (I know of the chips put under the skin of pets and have heard of some programs on late night radio that tell about RFID chips that are used in stores and other data gathering.) Maybe the 3rd generation chips will be super small and be as big as this dot. (I'm not worried about being tracked......just curious about how the things work.)