BajaNomad

Sentri pass

KSC - 6-10-2005 at 08:04 AM

For those of you who have experience with this service @ the TJ border....is it worth it ($$) and what do you do when you have people traveling with you in your car who are not registered through this system? Do you have to go into the regular lines @ the border, or is there a way to still cross in the Sentri lines?

David K - 6-10-2005 at 08:17 AM

I think you already know the answer... you have to wait with the rest of us poor folks!

yankeeirishman - 6-10-2005 at 08:41 AM

http://www.bajabound.com/before/permits/sentri.asp

Here's details for those of us that dont know what a Sentri Pass is

Bob and Susan - 6-10-2005 at 09:14 AM

If you have a Sentri Pass and the people in the car are not registered...

you drop them right at the door to walk across...

they walk across...

you drive across, go the the other side in a round-about

You pick them up...

Still WAY faster than waiting in line with ALL the cars

yankeeirishman - 6-10-2005 at 11:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
If you have a Sentri Pass and the people in the car are not registered...

you drop them right at the door to walk across...

they walk across...

you drive across, go the the other side in a round-about

You pick them up...

Still WAY faster than waiting in line with ALL the cars


I learn something new here every week! Good game plan!

PacO - 6-10-2005 at 12:54 PM

All applications are on hold or canceled at this point according to a phone call I got regarding my appointment. I think until October or so.

elgatoloco - 6-10-2005 at 01:38 PM

The system as designed was set up for 18,000 users. Recently they passed 100,000. They have stopped taking new applicants until they expand the lanes. They get 7,000 users crossing a day.

We came home Monday night Memorial Day, hit the Sentri line at 5:20 PM crossed at 6:00 PM, the longest we had ever waited. As I approached the booth I asked the car next to me in the 'regular lanes' how long they had been waiting and was told three hours 15 minutes!

We think it is money well spent. We cross frequently and will go down to TJ for breakfast or dinner and a tequila restock. We use the pass 4-6 times a month.

Bob and Susan - 6-10-2005 at 01:45 PM

I probably saw you drive past too....

I waited 4 hours to cross on Memorial Day Evening...

I did get FRESH churros though:lol::lol:

Gato

DanO - 6-10-2005 at 02:54 PM

We came through SENTRI a couple of hours after you on Memorial Day and the wait was 35 minutes -- by far our longest ever. The people in the main lines had been waiting so long they started a horn riot. I can still feel the headache.

Unfortunately, on high traffic days like that, I don't see additional SENTRI gates solving the problem -- the root of it is that there is only one access lane on the Mexican side (two if there are no buses in the bus lane, but that never happens when there's a lot of traffic). Unless the expansion occurs on that side is well, the problem is going to persist when it gets really busy.

In response to the original post, I can say that putting aside this one long wait, which was very unusual, the SENTRI pass is worth every nickel (I'll bet my 7-year old wouldn't mind going back to peeing in a coke can -- HOLD IT STEADY THERE, SON! -- but I don't miss it).

elgatoloco - 6-10-2005 at 03:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DanO (I'll bet my 7-year old wouldn't mind going back to peeing in a coke can -- HOLD IT STEADY THERE, SON! -- but I don't miss it).


:lol:

That was me 30 something years ago!!!! I have not too fond memeries of Nixon's 'Operation Intercept' and the routine three hour border waits. My mom finally got us a couple of the big Folger's cans due to my lousy aim!!!! :lol: