As the tourism season kicks into gear, travelers must remember to get their identification papers in order to abide by a new federal rule change that took effect June 1.
Part of the Terrorism Prevention Act passed in 2004, the regulations require people traveling by land or sea into the United States to show a passport, passport card, enhanced driver’s license or a document available under the “Trusted Traveler” program, such as a Nexus card. A standard driver’s license or birth certificate will not be accepted. Passports are already required for air travel into the U.S.
The best bet is to purchase a passport, which costs $100 for travelers over 16 years old and $85 for those younger. Though it is more expensive than the passport card – $45 – it is more versatile. The passport card can’t be used for air travel and is not accepted for travel to and from certain countries in the Western Hemisphere. Both documents are issued by the U.S. State Department.
Enhanced driver’s licenses are only available in four states: Washington, Michigan, Vermont and New York. Montanans need not worry about this option. Trusted traveler documents, like the Nexus card, require extensive background screening, in-person interviewing and only work for land travel between the U.S. and Canada.
Dave Pudelka, port director at the Roosville Port of Entry in Eureka, said so far the compliance rate in Montana has been “99 percent.” The few who weren’t aware of the rules or hadn’t yet done the necessary paperwork as of last week were not punished and were instead given a handout of the rules. Strict enforcement won’t begin until later this year.
Rather than cause border delays, as some people were initially concerned about, the rule changes have actually sped up crossings, Pudelka said. That’s because the new documents have embedded chips and can simply be swiped through a machine to determine their validity. Pudelka said his port was able to get a fully loaded bus across the border in just a few minutes.
This is a good sign for Pudelka, who expects 5 to 10 percent higher traffic at his port than last year, largely due to lower gas prices.
“Overall I’m pleased,” Pudelka said. “It’s gone a lot smoother than we expected.”
For more information, go to www.travel.state.gov.