Planning on Traveling within North America this Summer? Read this

Courtesy of CBP

Planet Earth (Mar 31) –The new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiatives are underway meaning, since the increase in radical religious terrorism finding its way within our borders, the days of simply visiting Canada for a few days for example, is over.

Travel changes are such that no longer can you simply drive north to the border, show your driver’s license and proof of insurance, state your interest, “Going to Montreal to party for a few days” and be sent on your merry way. In fact, that may actually be easier than returning back to the states.

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is now requiring U.S. and Canadian travelers to present a passport or other documentation to identify oneself and their nationality. All this for a few, with their religious beliefs abounding upon all, not only in foreign lands but, those right-wingers here at home, have made every effort to turn their “religions” into words of war.

In an effort to make life easier for us all, another relatively new “government” entity, the Department of Homeland Security is providing standardized documentation available to the citizens of the United States to make travel easier.

Life might have been easier if, since the 80’s creations of “Czar” positions, and newly created government bureaucracies were kept to a minimal. As a child growing up during the “Eisenhower” era, I can remember being drawn into large auditoriums taught not only how to protect ourselves from the inevitable nuclear blast sent our direction courtesy of some “Czar” in control of a far off distant land, for one reason or another but, that “Czars” were evil rulers that would happily make stew from the meat of our little bones as well. Leave it up to the GOP to debunk those rumors however, I digress.

According to the government’s new “Get You Home” web site, “WHTI went into effect June 1, 2009 for land and sea travel into the U.S. WHTI document requirements for air travel went into effect in 2007.”

Currently there are four methods at your disposal to identify yourself depending not only on your travel destination but by means as well. An enhanced driver’s license is being provided in several locations either side of the U.S./Canadian borders. According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, these enhanced licenses can be used between Canada, Mexico, some ports in the Caribbean provided on your means of transportation other than flight to arrive to your vacation or business destination.

There is a “Trusted Traveler Program” available as well. As we can see from the press releases of the Customs and Border Patrol, abuse of this program is somewhat common regarding Commercial trucking industries. One would expect change in this program soon.

So all in all, this summer whether traveling north to Canada to be set an awe at the beauty of millions of square miles of untainted natural beauty, or heading south to Mexico or Caribbean during the winter months to enjoy the sunny beaches make certain you have your “travel” documents at hand, and have a safe enjoyable journey. Of course as we all know, if you are a United States citizen wanting to roam into the vast unknown regions also known as “red” states, to see for yourself if zombies really do live there, just remember a few travel tips, don’t drink the water, and do not pet the two legged creatures, they do bite.

Happy Traveling Everyone!

Posted by rgrone on March 31, 2010. Filed under Opinion Editorial,Travel,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.