BajaNomad

How to lose your SENTRI pass

carlo - 5-6-2007 at 09:39 PM

SENTRI lines have been getting a bit long during peak periods lately. Some people seem to think it's OK to drive to the front of the line, drop off a passenger then cut into the front of the line. Last weekend I was in line for a little over 30 minutes and saw this happen a few times. Just before I got to the front, two vehicles dropped off passengers then tried to cut in front of me. I didn't let them in then they both got in 5 cars back. When I got to the booth I made sure to let the customs agent know that they cut in line. She was very interested and had me identify the vehicles. She said they've been having a problem with it lately and that people caught cutting into line loose their SENTRI pass on the first offense.

If you see someone cutting into the SENTRI line, make sure to report them to the agent in the booth. People that cut in line do not deserve the privilege of using the SENTRI lane. They know they are in the wrong and deserve to suffer the consequences of their selfishness.

[Edited on 5-7-2007 by carlo]

elgatoloco - 5-6-2007 at 09:56 PM

Good info. We crossed today at Otay. Saw several folks come up the right lane and try and get in. None succeeded. Next time I will leave a gap. :saint::smug:

pointsurfbaja - 5-6-2007 at 10:16 PM

Yeah, they seem real strict about that stuff. My first experience with SENTRI was very unpleasant. I got in the lane accidentally. There wer no signs indicating it as a special lane and I hadn't heard about any special lanes ever. We got to the agent and he asked for our SENTRI pass and I had no idea what he was talking about. He told me we had to go back into Mexico and start again. If I failed to return to mexico and come back again there would be a $10,000 fine per person in the vehicle. The agent in secondary explained to us that a big truck knocked down the sign and that the U.S. govt. gave the Mexi govt $$$$ to fix it, but they still hadn't done it. Needless to say we had to go out of Mex and back into Mex and wait in line again. It sucked. I was hoping they would give us a break. They even knew it was our first time ever coming through that lane. They told us because they ran my plates. Oh well at least they obeyed the letter of that law. Now if we could only get them to be as strict with the illegal immigrants and those companies that hire them.

Russ - 5-7-2007 at 06:11 AM

Last trip North I got into traffic and was routed around the city and ended up in the SENTRI lane. I was sent to secondary, waited for some one to help me and after 45 minutes finally some one said I'd have to go back to Mexico and start over. After they ran my plates, another 15 min, they told me to get out of there. I thought that sending me back to Mexico was something to scare me. Guess not. I was lucky!

4baja - 5-7-2007 at 06:22 AM

wich lanes are the sentry lanes at the tjuana crossing. thinking about getting a card.:coolup:

SDRonni - 5-7-2007 at 06:34 AM

When you're talking about people cutting in line, are you talking San Ysidro or Otay? Sentri office told us it's not okay to drop passengers in the Sentri lane at SY, but okay at Otay. Haven't tried yet, but probably will in the future. How does one drop a passenger at Otay and then get back in line w/o cutting in?

carlo - 5-7-2007 at 07:16 AM

I was talking about Otay. The lane used for sentri is shared with buses and it is really wide. The sentri line forms on the left and there is about two lanes wide on the right. People drive up in the bus lane to let their passengers off at the front of the line because the pedestrian line can sometimes be over 30 mins. The lane isn't designed to drop off passengers and leave. It isn't a round trip, so people are cutting in, backing up or turning around and driving the wrong way on a one way road. When the line is short, it isn't a problem. You drop off your passengers and get into the back of the line which is near the front. When it is long, you shouldn't be driving past anybody in line because your only option once you get to the front is illegal(cut in or drive the wrong way). About 150 yards from the front of the line, there is a U turn and you can drop off passengers there and return to the back of the line. If the passenger has a lot of bags, there is usually a Mexican guy there with a hand truck that will carry the load for a small tip.

The sentri lane in San Ysidro sentri lane is a ways away from the regular lane. The thread at the URL below has directions. I usally go Otay because I'm coming from south of Rosarito and the new (free) toll road makes it easy to get there.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24330#pid223394



[Edited on 5-7-2007 by carlo]

bajasammy - 5-7-2007 at 11:56 AM

SDRonni,

We got our passes recently and were never told it was a no-no to drop off passengers and SanY. Has anybody else heard this one?

Baja Bernie - 5-7-2007 at 04:43 PM

It is not the dropping of passengers that is the problem it IS the stopping, blocking traffic and then trying to dive back in front of those who follow the rules..............Sentri is for folks who know they must follow the rules and there is no tolerance allowed...............and they make that very clear each time you renew your cards.

Passengers should bail out and let the vehicle move on IN line without delay.

Carlo good for you!!!!!!!

The Gull - 5-8-2007 at 03:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SDRonni
When you're talking about people cutting in line, are you talking San Ysidro or Otay? Sentri office told us it's not okay to drop passengers in the Sentri lane at SY, but okay at Otay. Haven't tried yet, but probably will in the future. How does one drop a passenger at Otay and then get back in line w/o cutting in?


How about waiting in line like the rest of the folks and then opening your door a 100 yards prior to the crossing, without getting out of the line? It isn't like the area is the hubbub of activity and your passengers will get hit by a car just because they got out of a car waiting in line. When there is a pedestrian line, it moves slower than the car line, so it would make sense to open your door when you see the end of the pedestrian line.

craiggers - 5-8-2007 at 03:38 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by The Gull
Quote:
Originally posted by SDRonni
When you're talking about people cutting in line, are you talking San Ysidro or Otay? Sentri office told us it's not okay to drop passengers in the Sentri lane at SY, but okay at Otay. Haven't tried yet, but probably will in the future. How does one drop a passenger at Otay and then get back in line w/o cutting in?


How about waiting in line like the rest of the folks and then opening your door a 100 yards prior to the crossing, without getting out of the line? It isn't like the area is the hubbub of activity and your passengers will get hit by a car just because they got out of a car waiting in line. When there is a pedestrian line, it moves slower than the car line, so it would make sense to open your door when you see the end of the pedestrian line.


Oh No !!! not a voice of reason!!

[Edited on 5-8-2007 by craiggers]

SDRonni - 5-8-2007 at 06:28 AM

When we got our Sentri pass, we were told SPECIFICALLY not to drop passengers at SY. We were told by CBP that there had been two accidents where a dropped-off passenger had been hit by a bus...remember that bus lane is the one on the far right. He also said cameras would be "watching," would note your license plate and the pass would be pulled. Now, whether or not he was just trying to scare us into knowing how strict they are or whether or not they are really that strict I don't know, but I'm scared to take a chance because 8 minutes to cross the border sure beats 2 1/2 hours any day! I won't chance it......

Craiggers, sorry for the extra reasoned response

The Gull - 5-9-2007 at 04:49 AM

Ronni, Pay attention the next time you cross at SY. There is a turnout and right hand turn at about 200 yards short of the border where all the taxis drop people. You should get familiar with it if you are afraid of big brother watching you.

If you follow the right hand turn and make another right hand turn, you can cross over Padre Kino and get back in line like a good little pass holder.

In any event, the "other" lane is not buses-only until you get really close to the checkpoint gates when the buses peel off to the right for their truly exclusive lane (enforceable by the US since it is now US land under your wheels). Many people do not know that 100 feet before the gate is American soil and that is where CBP can enforce the law (see the dope sniffing dogs and the better blacktop under your car. Just prior to the gate area, you will be watching the buses unloading their passengers for the walk across. What would that suggest?

During most hours of operation there are two or more gates open for Sentri. That means more than one lane can feed those 2-3 gates. Ignore what is stenciled on the ground, the Mexican officials (who by the way are the only ones able to enforce that rule) ignore it. Also, it is the lane where all the dropoffs have to occur...so much for the bus exclusivity.

Crossing at Otay is even less complicated and less encumbered.

The Gull - 5-9-2007 at 05:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajasammy
SDRonni,

We got our passes recently and were never told it was a no-no to drop off passengers and SanY. Has anybody else heard this one?


Yes, that is why there are openings in the pipe-fence barrier along the "bus" (right hand) lane at SY. Those openings are for people who are not supposed to be dropped off, so don't use them. Drop your passengers off in downtown TJ and tell them to take a taxi to the border since the taxis can drive almost all the way in the Sentri lane and then make a right hand turn and drop off people. Wow, to have the nerves of steel required to use the specific openings in the fence that are not supposed to be used.

I was told that the boogie man waited for me in the closet. I still don't open the closet without the light on. We all know the boogie man only exists in the dark. Bajasammy, isn't that true as well?

SDRonni - 5-9-2007 at 07:13 AM

Gull,

I don't really think I'm scared of any boogeyman. Hell, we've actually invested a chunk of change in a condo development in Rosarito. That takes a lot of guts IMHO. Thanks for the sarcasm. I'll be more careful in future postings. Guess since I'm still a "Junior Nomad," I'm still subject to criticism...

[Edited on 5-9-2007 by SDRonni]

bajasammy - 5-10-2007 at 07:13 AM

Gull,

That Boogeyman thing flew right over my head, but I'm sure it was said with the best of intentions.

I'm a rule follower, always have been. I can't stand people that cut in line, and wouldn't be doing that to someone else. I just wanted to clarify the protocol and do the right thing when crossing San Y with Non-Sentri passengers.

The Gull - 5-11-2007 at 08:04 AM

Bajasammy

Agreed, see U2U.