As the Illinois Tollway abandons plastic transponders in favor of new self-adhesive labels, drivers are urged to make the transition as soon as possible.
The Tollway has previously said it will send sticker labels to customers when the transponders reach their expiration date. While people are still encouraged to make the change, the deadline is being pushed back.
The Illinois Tollway is extending the deadline for all transponders by two years, according to its website. Customers will receive a letter when it is time to exchange the devices, the agency said.
The turnpike previously acknowledged the transition wouldn’t happen quickly, saying it would likely take three to five years to phase out transponders.
Unlike a transponder, which can be moved from car to car, new sticker labels must remain on the vehicle to which they are attached.
The new tags, which use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to send signals to I-PASS sensors, can be purchased in a variety of ways. They are available free of charge at customer service centers and through the Illinois Tollway website, officials say. Stickers can also be purchased at Jewel-Osco and RoadRanger stores, but a retail fee will be charged at these locations.
According to Illinois Tollway, the sticker labels will be immediately ready for use on their roadways once linked to an I-PASS account, which can be done through Tollway’s mobile app or through the Tollway website.
This process must be completed within 15 days of receiving the new sticker label.
The stickers will be ready for use within 24 hours on the Chicago Skyway, as well as other E-ZPass routes across the United States.
Illinois Tollway officials remind motorists that they should not throw away their transponders in the trash, but should instead look for a recycling point in their area, as the devices contain lithium-ion batteries.
