Thread: WA: New rules for crossing the border

New rules for crossing the border

07:50 AM PST on Tuesday, January 22, 2008

By TONYA MOSLEY / KING 5 News


New rules for travelers crossing the U.S. border

SEATTLE - Listen up travelers. Beginning next week, it will now take more than your word to cross the Canadian border.

The Department of Homeland Security will require official documentation of citizenship for those crossing by land or sea.

We've always been told we need some form of citizenship identification, but at times border patrol officers were accepting an oral declaration of citizenship. During October and December of last year, Canadian border patrol officers reported more than 1,500 cases where people were falsely claiming to be U.S. citizens, including one individual wanted for homicide in California.

So beginning January 31st, all adult travelers crossing the border by land or sea will need proof of citizenship. Here's what will be required: If you're traveling by car, bus, train, ferry, cruise ship or private boat, you will need a passport, enhanced driver's license or a regular driver's license with a birth or naturalization certificate. Those 18 and under will only need a birth certificate. This rule includes infants.

You may be wondering what exactly is an enhanced driver's license. Beginning Tuesday, Washington will be the first state in the nation to offer a specific border crossing ID that is cheaper than a passport but is approved by federal authorities as a substitute for one.

It is a substitute if you're traveling by land or sea, but not by air. You'll need a passport for that.

Homeland Security officials are scheduled to discuss these changes Tuesday morning.


http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/ ... 52b20.html

IT'S ABOUT FRIKKIN' TIME!!!