Paul

[Subject and story taken from the Seattle PI, though probably reported in loads of
other places].

KELOWNA, B.C. -- A birth certificate, school photo identification, even a note from
your parents aren't good enough in these jittery times.

That's what members of a Kelowna, B.C., girls' softball team learned the hard way
when they were turned back Friday at the Cascade-Laurier crossing of the Canada-U.S.
border. They were headed to a tournament in Spokane.

"It's a bummer," said Stephanie Wellman, 15, who plays on the Okanagan region team.
"We go every year and have never before been told we couldn't cross the border.

"We had to pull out of the tournament."

The four girls, travelling in two cars with parents, tried to cross the border from
British Columbia into Washington on U.S. Route 395 at the Cascade-Laurier crossing.

Border security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks means travellers must present
either a passport or government photo ID. Many of the girls, aged 14 to 16, were too
young to have a driver's license and did not have passports.

An officer at the Laurier Port of Entry said the rules are that everybody over 14
needs government-issued photo identification or a passport. A school identification
card is not enough, said the officer, who did not want to be identified.

Earlier, five other team members in other cars crossed the border at different
checkpoints without being asked for identification. They reached Spokane and then
learned of the other members' border trouble.

"It's inconsistent one place, overzealous another," said coach Gary Eisenhut. He said
British Columbia residents are accustomed to travelling with children represented by
a parent's passport.

Without the four players, the community team didn't have enough people to participate
in the July Fourth Shoot-out, said Eisenhut. The five players returned to Kelowna.

"We understand obviously about September 11th, but we're looking at kids just going
down to play ball," Eisenhut said.

--
paul 58-77 Sheffield 77-79 Coventry 79-88 Sheffield 88-97 Milton Keynes 97-99 London
99-00 Seattle 00-?? Fremont

Andy Platt

Get used to this. I think we'll start seeing a big increase in the number of US
citizens who carry a passport. BTW, I believe the current requirements are that you
carry ID and a certified copy of your birth certificate or a passport when crossing
into Canada. Obviously these girls had the birth certificate but not the ID.

Andy.

--
I'm not really here - it's just your warped imagination. "paul"
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > [Subject and story taken from the Seattle PI, though probably reported in loads of
    > other places].
    >
    > KELOWNA, B.C. -- A birth certificate, school photo identification, even a note from
    > your parents aren't good enough in these jittery times.
    >
    > That's what members of a Kelowna, B.C., girls' softball team learned the hard way
    > when they were turned back Friday at the Cascade-Laurier crossing of the
    > Canada-U.S. border. They were headed to a tournament in Spokane.
    >
    > "It's a bummer," said Stephanie Wellman, 15, who plays on the Okanagan region team.
    > "We go every year and have never before been told we couldn't cross the border.
    >
    > "We had to pull out of the tournament."
    >
    > The four girls, travelling in two cars with parents, tried to cross the border from
    > British Columbia into Washington on U.S. Route 395 at the Cascade-Laurier crossing.
    >
    > Border security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks means travellers must present
    > either a passport or government photo ID. Many of the girls, aged 14 to 16, were
    > too young to have a driver's license and did not have passports.
    >
    > An officer at the Laurier Port of Entry said the rules are that everybody over 14
    > needs government-issued photo identification or a passport. A school identification
    > card is not enough, said the officer, who did not want to be identified.
    >
    > Earlier, five other team members in other cars crossed the border at different
    > checkpoints without being asked for identification. They reached Spokane and then
    > learned of the other members' border trouble.
    >
    > "It's inconsistent one place, overzealous another," said coach Gary Eisenhut. He
    > said British Columbia residents are accustomed to travelling with children
    > represented by a parent's passport.
    >
    > Without the four players, the community team didn't have enough people to
    > participate in the July Fourth Shoot-out, said Eisenhut. The five players returned
    > to Kelowna.
    >
    > "We understand obviously about September 11th, but we're looking at kids just going
    > down to play ball," Eisenhut said.
    >
    > --
    > paul 58-77 Sheffield 77-79 Coventry 79-88 Sheffield 88-97 Milton Keynes 97-99
    > London 99-00 Seattle 00-?? Fremont

Rete

Last year when returning from a trip to Montreal to New York City, I traveled by train as Jim had business to contact in Canada and would be returning at a later date. At the border we were inspected ~on train~ and those without visas were escorted off the train to be further examined at the custom's office. While we waited I read through the documentation that they had provided us and I printed the blurb at that time that clearly states that passports are required and it is only a courtesy that allows Canadians to enter the US with the use of driver's licenses and/or certified birth certificates and that a valid passport must be presented if so demanded. It appears that some POE agents are enforcing their right to demand this documentation. Although it seems silly being that the girls were members of a softball team and going to participate in a competition, it might be prudent for other Canadian teams to hire a bus to bring these participants to the tourney in a group rather than allowing them to travel independently of other team members. I know independent travel arrangements are the norm for these groups as it was the case for my niece's various soccer team's participation in tourneys through the northeast.

Rete