The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is debating whether to make the return of beeping I-PASS transponders an option.
When I-PASS was first introduced in 1994, the transponders beeped to let drivers know that tolls were being collected from their prepaid accounts, and that everything was functioning properly with their account. These were phased out in favor of the current devices, “flat packs,” which do not beep.
The idea of offering the beeping transponder is in response to the tollway authority's latest effort to eliminate issues associated with tolls. Thousands of I-PASS customers are surprised to receive bills for unpaid tolls and fines, because they were unaware of problems with their accounts, usually an expired credit card or a deficient transponder.
Tollway authority chairman John Mitola said April 28 that he will “aggressively push” for the E-ZPass Interagency Group—a consortium of toll road operators that oversees electronic toll collection in 12 states, including Illinois—to offer transponders that make a sound after passing through a toll.
The flat packs are free, but drivers must pay a refundable $10 deposit. Mitola said the new transponders will be offered as an alternative.
"They will be more costly," he said. "Some people will have to pay a little extra for them, but I think a lot of people will want to."
The tollway authority board agreed April 28 to spend $65,000 to invest in bettering the I-PASS call center system to handle the complaints resulting from the crackdown.
