I-PASS fines???? (fit in, renting, loan)

[Mathguy]

Recently had a friend tell me that while visiting their parents, they borrowed their I-PASS and upon returning to their state of residence got a bill with fine after fine for when the I-PASS triggered and their vehicle had not been added to the account with the transponder.

Anybody else had this happen? Is this a random audit thing or is this a new (revenue) enforcement.

I've had an I-PASS for 10 years and upon hearing this went and checked mine. My late wife had set it up so I didn't even know about the vehicles registered thing. I've been visiting Illinois and using my I-PASS there about twice a year for 5 years now with vehicles that weren't on the account and never got in trouble.

What may have helped is that my new car in 80% of the incidents had the same license plate as my old car on the account so if it just matched plate # to transponder then I'd have been fine. However my parents have loaned thier transponder to friends\relatives headed into the metro and never heard of this. (Maybe it was because the guy had WI plates? lol.)

I've updated my account info now, just curious if anyone else has heard of this.

Thanks for the input.

[pvande55]

If the I-Pass transponder is not working they check the video record. If the license plate is registered they simply charge that account whatever the toll rate is. If the plate is not registered they send a violation notice. Possible the transponder stopped working and the violation notice occurred. Best to register the vehicle with the account. Doesn't take long.

[awestover89]

I didn't realize this either. Use my I-Pass with family when they come to visit since we won't all fit in my sedan and never gotten a violation. Better safe than sorry though

[Drover]

Were the fines issued by Illinois or a different EZ-Pass state?

Did the transponders actually register, or were the fines based on it not registering for some reason?

If the transponder registers, I can't imagine the toll authority really caring if the car is linked to the account or not as long as they got their money. It's when the transponder doesn't register that it really behooves you to make sure the car is registered to some I-Pass/EZ-Pass account.

I wonder if they have a smartphone app so you can easily register cars on the fly such as if you're renting a car. If not they should.

[pvande55]

Originally Posted by Drover

Were the fines issued by Illinois or a different EZ-Pass state?

Did the transponders actually register, or were the fines based on it not registering for some reason?

If the transponder registers, I can't imagine the toll authority really caring if the car is linked to the account or not as long as they got their money. It's when the transponder doesn't register that it really behooves you to make sure the car is registered to some I-Pass/EZ-Pass account.

I wonder if they have a smartphone app so you can easily register cars on the fly such as if you're renting a car. If not they should.

I understand they are working on it.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pvande55

I understand they are working on it.

I checked the site earlier. There is a mobile-optimized page on their web site to update your account, but you have to navigate around a bit to get to it.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Drover

Were the fines issued by Illinois or a different EZ-Pass state?

Did the transponders actually register, or were the fines based on it not registering for some reason?

If the transponder registers, I can't imagine the toll authority really caring if the car is linked to the account or not as long as they got their money. It's when the transponder doesn't register that it really behooves you to make sure the car is registered to some I-Pass/EZ-Pass account.

I wonder if they have a smartphone app so you can easily register cars on the fly such as if you're renting a car. If not they should.

It's my understanding that they were issued by Illinois.

I will talk to him again this weekend and get more info.

[mattywo85]

Did you use the I-PASS in another state? As far as violations if you have never had a violation on that I-PASS before and your account is in good standing you can just pay the tolls and they will wipe the fees/violations.