Hokie Privacy

Parking Passes

Beginning in 2015, Virginia Tech started using new parking permits with embedded RFID chips. According to the manufacturer, “the RFID hangtags have the ability to be read at a range of 20 ft and 25 Mph with a read rate of 95%.” These hangtags use an off-the-shelf EPC Gen 2 Radio-Frequency Identity chip which operates between 860 and 960 MHz.

If you have more information or an EPC Gen 2 RFID interrogator, please contact us.

Best Practice Recommendations

1. Do not park on campus.

2. Disable the RFID chip. Some people recommend using a hammer or microwave, but your mileage may vary; verify the results before trusting them.

3. Remove the hangtag from your vehicle when possible, especially when traveling outside of Blacksburg.

References

• Contract with Weldon, Williams, & Lick, Inc.

• Parking hangtag brochure from Weldon, Willians, & Lick Inc.

• Photo of new parking pass provided by a VT employee (external link)

• EPC/RFID UHF Air Interface Protocol standards (external link)