(Concord, NH) - E-ZPass is marking 10 years on the New Hampshire Turnpike System, and some of the original transponders are reaching the end of their service life.

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A decade after electronic tolling was introduced on the New Hampshire Turnpike System, owners of the original transponders that were sold are being notified by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) that those transponders are reaching the end of their service life.

Customers with transponders that are at least nine years old (tag numbers 02600000001 – 02600300850) are being encouraged to test and/or replace their transponders if their tag is not being read in the lane to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective toll transactions.  Tag non-reads can be determined if the account statement shows the license plate number for the transaction instead of the transponder number.

Effective September 1, 2015, under NH State law (RSA 237:11), the E-ZPass toll discount (30% for passenger vehicles and 10% for commercial vehicles) will be only applied to New Hampshire customer accounts when a valid NH transponder is read in the toll lane.  Due to the additional costs associated with non-operating transponders, any tolls recorded based upon license plate images will be at the full toll rate.

Transponders can be tested at E-ZPass Walk-In Centers in Nashua, Hooksett and Portsmouth, which can be found at https://www.ezpassnh.com/en/about/csc.shtml .  The cost to replace an interior transponder is $8.90.  Transponders no longer in use should be returned to a Walk-In Center for proper disposal, or mailed to NH Customer Service, P.O. Box 52011, Newark, NJ 07101-8211.

A total of 300,850 transponders were sold to customers between June and September of 2005.  These transponders are now exceeding their anticipated battery life of 8 to 10 years.  Of the original transponders sold, 79% were used at least once in 2014.

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