BajaNomad - U.S. and Mexican states may charge to cross border

U.S. and Mexican states may charge to cross border

tsgarcia69 - 8-15-2008 at 06:26 PM

Oh this is really going to help increase tourism to Mexico...right...sure....yeah man.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080816/ts_nm/governors_border_d...

"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. and Mexican states are considering charging a fee for border crossings so they can raise money for infrastructure improvements that would reduce congestion along the border, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Friday.

The news came after governors from the 10 border states met with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at the Border Governors Conference in Los Angeles.

"Everyone agrees that we need to expand the pipe ... which means that we can get more people across quicker, more efficiently," Schwarzenegger told reporters at a news conference. "And there is a lack of money right now ... maybe people pay a certain amount to come cross. Let's assume $5. Don't hold me to that but that would then pay the bonds so we can develop infrastructure."

Other options, Schwarzenegger said, include charging to use certain lanes of traffic at the border.

"All of this has to be thought through," he said, referring to such a plan as a "public-private partnership."

Such plans will be critical to making all kinds of infrastructure improvements throughout California in the years to come, Schwarzenegger said, adding that the state would need $500 billion of investment in infrastructure in the next 20 years."

woody with a view - 8-15-2008 at 06:31 PM

in a previous life i was (wrongly, of course) convicted of multiple felonies and i can't get a sentri pass so i would GLADLY pay, oh let's say, $50 dollars to go to the front of the line every time i crossed northbound......makes sense to me, as long as the rest of you less-than-desirables get in line...behind me.

David K - 8-15-2008 at 06:36 PM

Maybe if this was the old 'California/ Bear Flag Republic' (you know an independant country like we were for a month)... But last time I checked we were part of the USA... I think Arnold would need an okay from the federal governmet first???

Alan - 8-15-2008 at 06:43 PM

I suppose one could consider it is just a simple user fee. No different than paying a fee to stay at a campground in the US or Mx. As long as the money is dedicated to the purpose of improving the facilities and not used to simply replace existing funding I could support the idea. I for one prefer user fees over increased taxes because it allows me to determine where I want my money spent. :lol:

CaboRon - 8-15-2008 at 06:45 PM

Like we have any money left ???

Woody ,, you would pay fifty bucks to fast track the border ?

Thought they already had that in the Sentri Lane.

CaboRon

Alan - 8-15-2008 at 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Like we have any money left ???

Woody ,, you would pay fifty bucks to fast track the border ?

Thought they already had that in the Sentri Lane.

CaboRon

You should be doing fine. I would have thought you converted all your dollars to pesos before the dollar crashed :lol:

CaboRon - 8-15-2008 at 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Like we have any money left ???

Woody ,, you would pay fifty bucks to fast track the border ?

Thought they already had that in the Sentri Lane.

CaboRon

You should be doing fine. I would have thought you converted all your dollars to pesos before the dollar crashed :lol:

The only dollars I have are deposited on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Have not had any leftovers so far. :lol:

CaboRon

Alan - 8-15-2008 at 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by Alan

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Like we have any money left ???

Woody ,, you would pay fifty bucks to fast track the border ?

Thought they already had that in the Sentri Lane.

CaboRon

You should be doing fine. I would have thought you converted all your dollars to pesos before the dollar crashed :lol:

The only dollars I have are deposited on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Have not had any leftovers so far. :lol:

CaboRon

No worries, mon! You'll get more next month! :lol:

oxxo - 8-15-2008 at 07:35 PM

If they start charging for entry exit, the wait will be as long ever. And if you complain they will say it would have been worse if they did not charge.

Color me incredulous! :fire:

rpleger - 8-15-2008 at 10:15 PM

Just like a toll road or bridge...we have examples all over California...If it speeds up the border crossing I'm all for it.

rpleger - 8-15-2008 at 10:31 PM

Pay a toll to cross the Golden Gate, or drive around...

Pay a toll for a fast border, or take the slow lanes...

I'll pay the toll...

David K - 8-15-2008 at 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rpleger
Pay a toll to cross the Golden Gate, or drive around...

Pay a toll for a fast border, or take the slow lanes...

I'll pay the toll...

Oh, for sure! I would pay for speedy crossing... my time is worth something... even on vacation. That is not what I understood was mentioned (an optional pay to cross fast lane). I understood the thread to say the states wanted to charge a fee just to cross the border... in the same lanes we now have.

[Edited on 8-16-2008 by David K]

Diver - 8-15-2008 at 11:12 PM

I'm with Alan; some folks use the border and some don't; just like parks.
For most of us, it would not be a big deal (except for Ron who likes to whine). :biggrin:

I'm not sure how this will be viewed by the Mexicans and others that cross every day to work; adds up to a lot of money for them.

rpleger - 8-16-2008 at 01:47 AM

Read this...it might help explain whats going on...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/us/16border.html?th&em...

wornout - 8-16-2008 at 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tsgarcia69
Oh this is really going to help increase tourism to Mexico...right...sure....yeah man.

Yes, and of course the money will go for what they say it is going for? Yea Right! Right in to the general fund it will go.

Why don't they use all the money they get from the drug busts to border infrastructure? Yes, use the cash they recover, and use the money they receive from auctioning off the trains, planes and automobiles (used for drug smuggling) too. Where does that government auction money go?

Can you imagine the financial impact this will be on the workers who cross daily for their jobs? Way to go Arnold!

Woooosh - 8-16-2008 at 08:40 AM

All for it. Set it up at the US points-of-entry, make it FREE for US Citizens to re-enter, send all others in cars to a secondary payment area for $5 a head. All could walk across for free and take the trolley.

If Mexico wants to set up booths at their entry to charge non-mexicans an entry fee- fine, maybe they can inspect for incoming contraband and guns while they are collecting the money.

You need to pay a fee to exit many countries by air. No money- no flighty.

It will hit the local economy for a $billion or so a year- but what does Ahnold care.

[Edited on 8-16-2008 by Woooosh]

Toll road/Free road

thebajarunner - 8-16-2008 at 09:00 AM

Don't we already have this example, both in Mexico and in California, both on the bridges and on the toll roads?

I don't happen to live in SoCal (for which I am eternally grateful) but you all have toll roads you can take to, hopefully, circumvent all the others trying to make time on your jammed freeways.

And we have bridges, which if you are so inclined, can be avoided by alternate, and lengthy, routes.

So, would I pay to zip across the line?
You bet, to Arnold, or to whomever,

Do I pay to zip across the Bay Bridge, instead of trekking down to go through San Jose? You bet.

Guess I am missing what is the problem here- sounds like a great solution.

Oh yeah.... how many of you have taken the free road all the way to Ensenada in recent times- I used to, no more!!

Woooosh - 8-16-2008 at 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner
Don't we already have this example, both in Mexico and in California, both on the bridges and on the toll roads?

I don't happen to live in SoCal (for which I am eternally grateful) but you all have toll roads you can take to, hopefully, circumvent all the others trying to make time on your jammed freeways.

And we have bridges, which if you are so inclined, can be avoided by alternate, and lengthy, routes.

So, would I pay to zip across the line?
You bet, to Arnold, or to whomever,

Do I pay to zip across the Bay Bridge, instead of trekking down to go through San Jose? You bet.

Guess I am missing what is the problem here- sounds like a great solution.

Oh yeah.... how many of you have taken the free road all the way to Ensenada in recent times- I used to, no more!!

Many toll roads in the USA are owned by foreign companies. No gain whatsoever for the local coffers.

Bruce R Leech - 8-16-2008 at 09:07 AM

Isn't the border crossing a federal facility? where in the world dose Ca. get to make any money off of it. :lol:

TMW - 8-16-2008 at 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Isn't the border crossing a federal facility? where in the world dose Ca. get to make any money off of it. :lol:

Exactly. The border is contolled and maintained by the Federal government not the state. If the state collected any money for crossing it would go straight to the feds coffer and nothing will change. I liked Arnold more when he was blasting the state legislature as girley men.

No State Authority

MrBillM - 8-16-2008 at 10:04 AM

IF the Austrian RINO "Thinks" he has the legal authority to charge a fee, then he's simply Ignorant.

As stated by others, the Federal Government has the sole authority in this respect and the Constitution is clear regarding Federal primacy.

Otherwise, California could charge entrance from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon.

I'm sure some would like that.

vacaenbaja - 8-17-2008 at 08:29 AM

I would not worry. After all there is still PLENTY of money wasting programs and departments
to be found that will more than take care of all of the states budgetary problems......Arnold said so on his campaign.
He is just waiting for the right time thats all.

Alan - 8-17-2008 at 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Isn't the border crossing a federal facility? where in the world dose Ca. get to make any money off of it. :lol:

How does anybody read into this that it is going to be a state imposed fee? I read the article to say that multiple state governors met with Homeland Security to DISCUSS multiple ways to improve security and improve access. It appears it was merely suggestions of various ways that could fund such improvements to the infrastructure. It makes perfect sense to me. Why should this be funded by federal taxes collected in Kansas or Nebraska? I would imagine very few of them are really concerned about OUR border wait times. I'm sure they would much prefer that THEIR federal taxes were spent on something that directly impacts them.

Sometimes this board reminds me of the old SNL show. This particular post reminds me of the skit where Gilda Radner is furious because the government is protecting "Endangered Feces" :lol:

[Edited on 8-17-2008 by Alan]

Mango - 8-17-2008 at 06:59 PM

Next, they will charge a toll on the air you breathe.

How about a toll for pushing the button to walk across the street?

Charge me tolls or taxes; but, not both.

:fire: