“where are all the board EEs and physicists?”
I am both, including RF engineering. While those library book and merchandise stickers operate, as you said, in a coupled field effect, so do the new highway tags. While it takes more energy and a larger antenna to do the job they can still read that itty-bitty RF ID tag.
In fact, the one for my motorcycle is a little fella that is barely visible mounted on the front of the headlight. The sticker is about 1/2” by 2.5”, the chip is about 3mm in diameter and the antenna for it is a few inches long.
So, if the DMV wanted to place a very readable tag in their driver’s license, no problem. Easily done.
” so do the new highway tags “
Tollway tags, pilgrim.
Pay attention to the discussion.