Practical Travel Safety Issues - Passports required for ALL travel out of/into USA on January 1, 2008; no exceptions!!

U.S. insists passports will be required for Canada land/sea travel starting in Jan.

WASHINGTON — The new rule that anyone driving across the Canadian border must have a passport or passcard will "absolutely" begin in January, government officials say, refuting a New York senator's claim the plan will be delayed.

Lawmakers from border states, including Washington, have been trying for months to stall or alter the plan to require the more secure identification documents, contending the rule will hurt trade and tourism.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was created by Congress to tighten security on both the Canadian and Mexican borders, but many members are now fuming at the notion their constituents will need a $97 dollar passport or a not-yet-developed passcard, expected to cost around $50. Currently, air travelers must have a passport when flying to and from Canada; starting in January a passport would be required for land and sea travelers (including ferries)..

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York predicted the government won't be able to start in January, but Department of Homeland Security officials insist they will.

"We have a firm deadline and we're absolutely committed to moving forward with the implementation of western hemisphere travel requirements at our northern border," DHS spokesman Russ Knocke said on Friday. Traveler also will be required to carry a passport when they enter the U.S. from Mexico.

The agency does not have a date for people to start applying for the new passcards, which are being created by the State Department, but Knocke said that would not affect the January launch.

Lawmakers have repeatedly passed legislation trying to delay the land-crossing requirements. On Wednesday, the House passed a measure designed to push back the starting date until 2009 or beyond.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003704439_webpassports12.html

Quote from Russ Knocke later in the article:

"You can either be for security or against security,"

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :mad: :mad: :mad: :confused: :(

Quote from Russ Knocke later in the article:

"You can either be for security or against security,"

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :mad: :mad: :mad: :confused: :(

Then put me down as "against", Rusty you jackass. :td:

"Where are your papers, Comrade?"

"You can either be for security or against security," Knocke said, adding that some states have already begun discussions about creating new driver's licenses that would be so secure they could be used instead of passports."

And other states have been telling the government to shove Real ID where the sun don't shine. I guess they're against disgusting little Communists like Knocke.

Its ridiculous that this garbage is being pushed by the Dept of Homeland Security and others. You laugh now, but it may not be that far-off that state-to-state checkpoints are established. This sounds completely off-base, but it could happen.

I'll believe it when I see it implemented. When was the last time the DHS was able to accomplish something by the first target date they set?

A bit OT, but landscape contractors all over the country, who want to hire legals, are in a real bind because workers from Central America are being turned back, even if their papers are in order.

I know several contractors who hire the same workers every year from Costa Rica - not one got into the country this year.

Some contractors have decided to hire illegals; others are having to turn away customers because they just don't have the crews.

I've heard that part of the reason for this is because whatever agency the old INS has become has hired lots of new employees who don't know what they are doing or like the TSA just make up rules and send people back to where they came from, correct papers or not.

Its ridiculous that this garbage is being pushed by the Dept of Homeland Security and others. You laugh now, but it may not be that far-off that state-to-state checkpoints are established. This sounds completely off-base, but it could happen.

"State-to-state" would mean that nearly every flight would have an ICE-like experience.

If you're also including the land crossings, that likely won't happen either.

First, the airports couldn't handle that. ORD and IAD can barely handle the international traffic right now.

Secondly, our government refuses to secure our southern border.

And at the risk of going OMNI here, that would also discourage the illegal aliens to come here. And we all know how important that our hotel rooms be clean, fast food be fast and our lawns to be mowed.

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York predicted the government won't be able to start in January, but Department of Homeland Security officials insist they will.

Yeah, but how long would it take?

Right now, Passport waits are in the 10-week range. Can't wait to see how long they would be if this land-crossing deal goes through.

All I know is I got my RFID-free Passport back in January, and I won't have ot deal with it for another 10 years.

I personally do not mind using passport to cross the borders, but imposing this
rule in the name of security is just plain stupidity :td:


My understanding of this quote:

"You can either be for security or against security,"


This statement only makes sense IF
Security = "their job security"