MasterCard tries to best EZ-Pass with PayPass

While riding around the roads, paying for tolls have always either been cash or a windshield mounted transponder like EZ-Pass or FasTrak. Well, for some motorists in Ohio, there's now a third option. For the next three months, select exit tolls along the Ohio Turnpike will be outfitted with self-service machines that accept MasterCard's PayPass. The trial run allows drivers wielding the appropriate cards to easily pay their toll with the contact-less system, not unlike the EZ-Pass. Vending machines around those exits will also sport PayPass options for added convenience. Hopefully, this convenience won't also be making life easier for hackers.

[Via The Wireless Report]

[Legodude522 @ Dec 28th 2006 3:46AM]

One thing I have been thinking about was the abuse of EZ-Pass to catch speeders. Say you have easy pass, they have a record of when you were at 1 toll and reached the next toll. If it only took you an hour when it should have taken an 1:15 minutes, you were obviously speeding at some point and they can send you a fine.

[Jypson @ Dec 28th 2006 3:54AM]

What a fabulous idea! Give the "man" another way to nickel and dime us to death, brilliant!!!

[Sam @ Dec 28th 2006 4:59AM]

They won't do that because then people will stop using EZ-Pass or similar systems. And EZ-Pass is a money maker for them.

[Yankees368 @ Dec 28th 2006 11:55AM]

They already tried this and the courts ruled that they were not allowed to do this. Problem solved.

[charles @ Dec 28th 2006 5:14AM]

Ya, lets give tickets.....that sounds like a great idea. maybe, they could put a sensor at stop signs so that if you dont come to a complete stop, it takes a picture of your license plate and its sent to the fbi so they can give you a fine

[Michael @ Dec 28th 2006 7:45AM]

Don't know if this is relevant, but using credit-cards to pay toll has been used in Scandinavia for quite some time now (years). We can use all major creditcards and it's perfect.

[Michael @ Dec 28th 2006 11:01AM]

This is in addition to the electronic pass we have. This is connected to the car so when you drive a rental, new car or what ever and doesn't have the pass, you can use creditcard as an additional service.

[Adam @ Dec 28th 2006 7:58AM]

People won't use it because one of the benefits of EZ-Pass is Open Road Tolling. Why stop and wave a credit card at a sensor, when you can pass through the toll booth at 60 MPH.

[Ryan @ Dec 28th 2006 8:10AM]

People in Ohio WILL use it because we don't have EZ-Pass or any form of comparable system. You already have to stop at the toll booth so why not speed it up a little by not having to wait for change.

[Robert Buss @ Dec 28th 2006 8:00AM]

This is a lousy system. The advantage of EZ-Pass is that you don't need to stop. Ohio refuses to use a compatible solution and has come up with their own system that offers no advatages over EZ-Pass and aggravates everyone from out of state.

[Amnesia @ Dec 28th 2006 8:40AM]

I'm still waiting for EZ Pass or something like it to be as anonymous as cash. Why can't you prepay your EZ Pass with cash? Why do they need to track you?

[Sam @ Dec 28th 2006 1:07PM]

Amnesia,
I don't know about the rest of the EZ-Pass system, but New Jersey has their "speed-booths" set up in an ass-backward fashion. Unlike the small booths and systems everywhere else, instead of reading the tag, the big booths read the license plate and link it back to the tag. So if you borrow a car or have a rental and bring your tag with you, it doesn't even try to read it.

[kombizz @ Dec 28th 2006 10:09AM]

what a nice idea.

[Alexander @ Dec 28th 2006 10:27AM]

As a resident of Ohio, and one who frequents the turnpike quite often... let me debunk a few myths here and now.

1. The 'They will have a timestamp of what time you started out, and then what time you finished at--and if it's too short, they will send you a ticket' is already in place. The ticket they have prints out the time and date on the back of the ticket. So they already have this system in place, why aren't they issuing tickets left and right--because I know I speed a little on the turnpike... The reason is that if they started doing that, everybody would use the non-toll roads and then they'd lose money. So they won't start doing this for a long time.

2. It's not that we don't want the easypass system. And by we I mean the drivers who use it frequently enough to warrant it. No, the holdup is with the ODOT or Ohio Department of Transportation. They can't make a profit on the system (they just hiked rates--it's almost 1/3 more expensive) within a year, and therefore they see no need to switch to it.

This system, while nice, will still not be any faster than those guys sitting in those little boothes changing money. I swear, I've been at those booths for 15 seconds when I've got someone who's been there for a long time. I have my money ready, I hand it to them, they hand me back my change. Done and done. This system will require a little slip of paper to be printed out, along with it checking the credit card and doing the transaction. I'd doubt it's faster than 15 seconds--although I could be wrong. We will have to see.

[Matt Smith @ Mar 30th 2007 12:07PM]

Checking the credit card and doing the transaction with the MasterCard PayPass credit card is far less than one second, approximately 120 milleseconds on average. If you need a receipt, then you will have to wait for a print out, but that time would be there in any situation where you needed a receipt. I think this system will be a lot faster... my guess is it will at least cut what you said your normal time is in half, if not more.

[Steve @ Dec 28th 2006 12:20PM]

Hey, what's that hole in the upper left corner of the Paypass card?

Looks like a key ring loop to me. Are you going to have to shift to park/neutral, turn off your car, remove the keys and swipe, insert your key, restart your car and then continue on your merry way?

Sounds like a winner.

[lilpunk1302 @ Dec 28th 2006 2:10PM]

The keyhole is there because they use the pay pass cards at stored and other places, I've seen a couple in the shops at a movie theater (Colossus Langley BC canada) so yeah, your not gonna drive your car into the starbucks in the theater

[Nash @ Dec 28th 2006 1:02PM]

I think it's a good idea for people like myself who don't always carry cash. I use a debit card for many things and I don't even remember the last time I had cash in my pocket (probably last weekend at the bar!). When I go through the toll it takes 5 secs. I stop, hand over the cash, and go. The problem is waiting in line to do it. I think this is more of a convenience thing than an effort to speed things up.

[Randall Bennett @ Dec 28th 2006 1:24PM]

Paypass also works on the 6 train in New York, or rather, it did work on the 6 train in new york for a long time. I don't know if they've discontinued the program or not.

[Eric K @ Jan 1st 2007 6:54PM]

It appears that Ohio will FINALLY be going to EZ-Pass by the end of 2008 if this article is true.

http://tollroadsnews.info/artman/publish/article_1648.shtml

It also appears that Indiana is working on it.

http://tollroadsnews.info/artman/publish/article_1634.shtml

Can anyone verify that these stories are correct?

[Matt Smith @ Mar 30th 2007 12:10PM]

MasterCard PayPass can be used in many other ways along with this way, and I think it is a great idea and will speed up the process.

[Chris @ Dec 16th 2007 1:41AM]

Two Things:

1. The Ohio Turnpike isnt the first road to use credit cards for payment! The Dulles Greenway in Virginia only accepts either credit cards or ez pass. (I know this because I commute on there everyday)

2. I'm sorry if i sound cynical, but I don't think this idea will take off. This IS unlike the EZ Pass as you actually have to roll down the window, stick you hand out there, and wave it around. The great thing about EZ Pass is you just drive under the sensor and you don't have to roll down the window.

Its good they're thinking out of the box, but I still think Ohio would be better of with EZ Pass.

[Robin Monks @ Apr 15th 2008 3:17PM]

PayPass is VERY insecure:

http://needsofthemany.blogono.com/2008/03/10/test/

Robin