PA. TURNPIKE E-ZPass problems frustrate drivers

It seems the transponders aren't responding.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Technology meant to make travel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike a breeze has become a headache for thousands of commuters in the state.
As many as 200,000 transponders issued during the first two years of the state's E-ZPass program may be faulty, mostly from premature battery failure, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in Sunday editions.
In one week last month 3,762 people using E-ZPass transponders, which are affixed to car windshields and are supposed to allow drivers to pass through tolls without stopping, sent back the units, according to turnpike officials. Of those returns, 2,183 had malfunctioning batteries.
Other states have reported similar problems with the transponders, manufactured by Ontario-based Mark IV Industries.
More than 2 million New Jersey drivers use the E-ZPass transmitters. About 11,500 returned the devices in a single month recently because of battery and other technical problems.
In New York, transportation officials began replacing 1.4 million of the passes in November because of battery problems.
Officials' response
Turnpike officials say that the number of failing transponders is a very small fraction of the total.
"Last month, the turnpike did 5 million E-ZPass transactions," said Joseph Trakimas, director of the E-ZPass customer service center. "Although we hear the negative side, people were satisfied 99 percent of the time."
Drivers using the E-ZPass system must establish a minimum $35 line of credit, which is applied to a transponder inside the car. Funds are deducted electronically when a driver passes through the E-ZPass lane at toll booths, theoretically getting commuters to where they want to go quicker.
Failing transponders, however, can require users to settle a $5 toll-violation fee and a wait for a replacement.
Brad Crooks first noticed his transponder was failing July 10, and then again a few days later.
"I was told I probably had a dead battery," he said of his E-ZPass, which is not yet 2 years old. "It took five weeks for them to replace it. That's insane."
The transponders are supposed to last up to 10 years, depending on frequency of use.
Company action
Mark IV has been replacing its transponders at no cost, and company officials say a new generation of more dependable transponders is on the way.
Company officials called the battery problem an "old story."
"Pennsylvania has no more problems than anyone else," said spokeswoman Margaret Nathan.
Meanwhile, the customer service center for E-ZPass has added several dozen employees to handle complaints. The staff is now up to 96.
"People want a replacement the next day and we can't do that," Trakimas said. "But we have gotten the turnaround time down to within 10 business days.