Diver - 9-13-2008 at 01:25 PM
SAN YSIDRO The nation's first permanent pedestrian SENTRI lane, which can be used by all SENTRI pass holders, opened Tuesday at the San Ysidro port
of entry.
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The San Ysidro Port of Entry has a new and permanent fast-pass pedestrian lane for low risk, pre-approved travelers.
The opening coincided with the end of a four-year pilot program that allowed up to 5,000 participants to use a temporary pedestrian SENTRI lane for
free. Those who participated must now apply for a regular five-year SENTRI pass to continue using the permanent lane.
The lane opened at 6 a.m., and by 2 p.m., 88 people had used it, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said. The lane will be open from 6 a.m.
to 10 p.m. daily.
It's wonderful, said Miguel Diaz, 65, of Tijuana, breezing past the long line of border crossers to the inspection booth in a matter of seconds.
It's going to make the crossing time much shorter.
While border waits in the regular lanes tend to be shorter for those on foot than for those in vehicles, the backup for pedestrians can still be an
hour or more. In the SENTRI lanes, participants' citizenship information is immediately displayed on the inspector's computer, streamlining the
questioning process.
Advertisement On Tuesday, even during the peak early-morning commute, there was no wait for pedestrians in the SENTRI lane, said Robert Hood, deputy
assistant director for the Otay Mesa port of entry, who is charge of SENTRI enrollment for both ports.
Hood said there are currently more than 100,000 registered SENTRI users in the San Diego-Tijuana region.
SENTRI participants may now use both the vehicle lanes and the pedestrian lane, which until Tuesday morning had been reserved for those participating
in the pilot program.
A SENTRI pass costs $122.25, is good for a five-year period and requires a background check, fingerprints, and an interview with a Customs and Border
Protection official.
New SENTRI cards are being issued with radio-frequency technology that allows the cards to be read from a distance. The cards will be considered
acceptable travel documents in lieu of passports for U.S. citizens entering by land from Mexico when new rules take effect June 1.
Prospective participants may apply by visiting cbp.gov/travel.
tjBill - 9-14-2008 at 07:12 PM
Sentri Pedestrian pass is much needed since the Pederstrian line at San Ysidro is frequently over two hours at peak times.
lizard lips - 9-23-2008 at 11:49 AM
Last week I crossed walking and used the sentri pedestrian lane which probably saved me 1 hour and as I was walking past everyone else I got yelled at
several times but just kept walking. The left lane is marked "Sentri" and no one was in it!
When I got to the custom agent he looked at my card and said I could not use it for this lane. He said it was for vehicles only. He went over to
another agent and after talking for a few minutes he came back and said he was confused and allowed me to enter. I asked him why he initially told me
I colud not cross and then he showed me sentri cards that were specifically for pedestrians. It says right on the card "Pedestrian Sentri".
So, those of you who don't have cars can go get these and cross without a hitch!