SunPass Sales Reach One Million Transponders; One-Millionth Customer Recognized

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--Nov. 2, 20031, 2003--SunPass(R), the State of Florida's pre-paid electronic toll program activated its one-millionth SunPass toll transponder when David Rubin called the SunPass Customer Service Center November 8, transportation officials announced today.

David Rubin of Boynton Beach purchased the transponder to help make his daily commute faster and more convenient. Rubin travels from Boynton Beach to Ft. Lauderdale where he works at Amerijet International Airlines.

Being the one-millionth SunPass customer had unexpected benefits for Mr. Rubin, who was presented a year's worth of free tolls for becoming the one-millionth SunPass customer, along with a reimbursement for the transponder and a trademark Florida toll collector shirt.

Florida's Turnpike Executive Director Jim Ely presented the toll award to Rubin, along with his wife Jaimee, son Bryan and daughter Kassidy during a brief ceremony on Wednesday, November 19.

"Florida's Turnpike is honored to recognize the Rubins as the first family of SunPass," Ely said. "It is amazing to think that the SunPass program has grown to a million transponders in just four years."

Mr. Rubin purchased his transponder at Publix, which recently joined Eckerd as a retailer for the SunPass transponder. The Publix and Eckerd locations combine for 1,100 retail outlets where transponders may be purchased.

SunPass, the Sunshine State's electronic toll collection system, was introduced in 1999 and statewide implementation was completed in 2001. SunPass can be used on nearly all Florida toll roads and bridges, saving time, money, and the hassle of digging for change. SunPass is also interoperable with E-Pass and O-Pass in the Orlando area. Currently, 42 percent of the traffic using Florida's Turnpike utilizes SunPass as the method for paying tolls.

When a driver attaches a SunPass transponder to the inside windshield of a vehicle, it allows the user to pass through SunPass-equipped toll facilities while deducting the toll amount automatically from the user's prepaid account.

SunPass-only lanes can process up to 1,800 vehicles per hour -- 300 percent more than a manual toll lane.

"Electronic toll collection represents a significant benefit to Turnpike users in terms of convenience and time. It's also an important feature that can make Turnpike travel more attractive to drivers who may not always think to use our road system," said Ely.

In addition to Publix and Eckerd stores, SunPass is available at Florida's Turnpike service plaza gift shops, on the SunPass Web site (http://www.SunPass.com) and by calling 1-888-TOLL-FLA. The transponders sell for $25 plus tax. Purchasers must then activate the transponder by establishing an account with a minimum opening balance of $25.

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