Lawmakers OK new driver's license to ease border crossings
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Washington lawmakers have approved a new $40 enhanced driver's license aimed at easing border crossings into British Columbia, possibly in lieu of a passport.
Acting swiftly at the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire, the state Senate voted 43-3 Wednesday to authorize the new license, which will be loaded with proof of citizenship and other information that can be easily scanned at the border. The governor expects to get approval Friday from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for a pilot project to test the new approach at the state-provincial border.
State officials said that beginning in January, the enhanced licenses could provide an alternative to the more expensive $97 passport expected to be required for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada in June 2009.
Regular driver's licenses also are being accepted at the border until June 2009.
The optional new license will incorporate proof of citizenship and Washington residency and allow search of federal databanks, including criminal records.
The licenses would cost $40 and would have to be picked up in person at a driver's license office, starting in January. The state House approved them earlier.
Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, and Gregoire are expected to sign papers in Seattle on Friday to allow the state to use the enhanced licenses as the country's first pilot project to test a cheaper, secure alternative to passports, Gregoire spokeswoman Holly Armstrong said after the Senate vote.
"The state of Washington has put forward a very innovative proposal and Homeland Security has been excited about this from the get-go," said Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke. "We appreciate the balancing of seccurity with efficiency and we think this proposal has a lot of merit."
He said other states may follow Washington's lead.
"The governor proposed the pilot project because with all the talk of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, there was a concern about the impact on tourism and economic ties, particularly with the (2010 Winter) Olympics coming up" in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., Armstrong said.
"She understands the need to look at security issues and to address those, but she and Premier (Gordon) Campbell believe there is a better way to do this, an alternative to the burdensome and expensive requirement for passports."
For a family of four, the passport requirement would get very expensive and it would certainly curtail spur-of-the-moment border crossings, Armstrong said.
British Columbia is expected to develop a similar license to expedite crossings into Washington state. John Van Dongen, minister of state for intergovernmental relations, said the province is pleased with state and federal approval of the pilot project.
"Our government is on board," he said in an interview. "We are definitely working on the same kind of driver's license platform as an alternative, secure travel document. We don't have a target date at this time, but we will have a parallel system. There is nothing but upside in working together."
The cross-border cooperation has been "absolutely first class," and may be a pattern for collaboration on other international concerns, he said.
Together, the state and province have 10 million people.
Canada is the state's most important trading partner and easy crossings are critical to both tourism and commerce, said state Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham, whose district includes four international border crossings.
Brandland said during Senate debate that he recently cooled his heels for 45 minutes trying to get back into Washington from British Columbia, and noted that people with good ID were getting through the checkpoints much quicker.
"This (new license) is a very, very important first step for us to take with the province of British Columbia," he said. "They are our biggest trading partner and they are our greatest ally, and the more we can come together on issues like this, the better it's going to be for all of us and for our economies."
State Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, said the rapid development of a whole new license was a major undertaking by the state Department of Licensing.
"This will make a difference to so many businesses who are so dependent on those tourists crossing the border on a regular basis," she said. "This will offer a more reasonable way for people."
Three lawmakers voted against the plan, but only Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, spoke during the debate.
"I guess I don't feel so warm and fuzzy about this bill," she said. "This is a different world today and we are dealing with national security issues. If you want to go from one country to another, you get a passport."
After June 1, 2009, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require Americans returning by land or water to the U.S. after short visits to Canada and Mexico to show passports or other high-tech ID cards.
Passports are already required for air travelers arriving in the United States from Canada and Mexico, including returning Americans.
---
The license bill is House Bill 1289.
Acting swiftly at the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire, the state Senate voted 43-3 Wednesday to authorize the new license, which will be loaded with proof of citizenship and other information that can be easily scanned at the border. The governor expects to get approval Friday from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for a pilot project to test the new approach at the state-provincial border.
State officials said that beginning in January, the enhanced licenses could provide an alternative to the more expensive $97 passport expected to be required for land and sea travel between the U.S. and Canada in June 2009.
Regular driver's licenses also are being accepted at the border until June 2009.
The optional new license will incorporate proof of citizenship and Washington residency and allow search of federal databanks, including criminal records.
The licenses would cost $40 and would have to be picked up in person at a driver's license office, starting in January. The state House approved them earlier.
Michael Chertoff, secretary of homeland security, and Gregoire are expected to sign papers in Seattle on Friday to allow the state to use the enhanced licenses as the country's first pilot project to test a cheaper, secure alternative to passports, Gregoire spokeswoman Holly Armstrong said after the Senate vote.
"The state of Washington has put forward a very innovative proposal and Homeland Security has been excited about this from the get-go," said Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke. "We appreciate the balancing of seccurity with efficiency and we think this proposal has a lot of merit."
He said other states may follow Washington's lead.
"The governor proposed the pilot project because with all the talk of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, there was a concern about the impact on tourism and economic ties, particularly with the (2010 Winter) Olympics coming up" in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C., Armstrong said.
"She understands the need to look at security issues and to address those, but she and Premier (Gordon) Campbell believe there is a better way to do this, an alternative to the burdensome and expensive requirement for passports."
For a family of four, the passport requirement would get very expensive and it would certainly curtail spur-of-the-moment border crossings, Armstrong said.
British Columbia is expected to develop a similar license to expedite crossings into Washington state. John Van Dongen, minister of state for intergovernmental relations, said the province is pleased with state and federal approval of the pilot project.
"Our government is on board," he said in an interview. "We are definitely working on the same kind of driver's license platform as an alternative, secure travel document. We don't have a target date at this time, but we will have a parallel system. There is nothing but upside in working together."
The cross-border cooperation has been "absolutely first class," and may be a pattern for collaboration on other international concerns, he said.
Together, the state and province have 10 million people.
Canada is the state's most important trading partner and easy crossings are critical to both tourism and commerce, said state Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Bellingham, whose district includes four international border crossings.
Brandland said during Senate debate that he recently cooled his heels for 45 minutes trying to get back into Washington from British Columbia, and noted that people with good ID were getting through the checkpoints much quicker.
"This (new license) is a very, very important first step for us to take with the province of British Columbia," he said. "They are our biggest trading partner and they are our greatest ally, and the more we can come together on issues like this, the better it's going to be for all of us and for our economies."
State Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, said the rapid development of a whole new license was a major undertaking by the state Department of Licensing.
"This will make a difference to so many businesses who are so dependent on those tourists crossing the border on a regular basis," she said. "This will offer a more reasonable way for people."
Three lawmakers voted against the plan, but only Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, spoke during the debate.
"I guess I don't feel so warm and fuzzy about this bill," she said. "This is a different world today and we are dealing with national security issues. If you want to go from one country to another, you get a passport."
After June 1, 2009, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require Americans returning by land or water to the U.S. after short visits to Canada and Mexico to show passports or other high-tech ID cards.
Passports are already required for air travelers arriving in the United States from Canada and Mexico, including returning Americans.
---
The license bill is House Bill 1289.
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