BajaNomad

TECATE RFID LANE IS NOW OPEN AND RE-ARRANGED

Udo - 7-30-2012 at 06:49 PM

Yes, the news has gotten out about the RFID (passport card) lane in Tecate.
Now instead of driving right up to the US entry, one has to drive to the regular crossing (up a large hill next to the US border).
Stay on the far left lane and as soon as you can change lanes to the next lane to your left, DO SO IMMEDIATELY. If a cop stops you, show them your RFID and they will then motion you by.
The wait is still 1/3 of the other lanes.

MEXTRANS is grading the dirt area next to the concrete road (the dirt road that ends jus as one nears the top of the hill) and will soon be turned into the RFID ONLY LANE. This lane will then start from the main highway.

willardguy - 7-30-2012 at 07:04 PM

ready lane still weekends only?

Bajaboy - 7-30-2012 at 07:40 PM

anyone else hear about the 5 hour wait at Tecate yesterday? Also heard horror stories at SY.

Ateo - 7-30-2012 at 07:55 PM

Quote:
My friends did 2 hours with the "Fast Pass" or whatever they call it (the tourism promotion pass) at San Ysidro yesterday, obtained from Ollie's Pizza in Rosarito area. So it must've been a nightmare.

quote]Originally posted by Bajaboy
anyone else hear about the 5 hour wait at Tecate yesterday? Also heard horror stories at SY.

Ateo - 7-30-2012 at 07:57 PM

This is good news Udo but I'm confused and will be using this POE soon. Are you sayin' get in the regular line that parallels the border fence but stay in left lane? Any help appreciated. After re-reading your post I think I have it right? Thanks,
Ateo
Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
Yes, the news has gotten out about the RFID (passport card) lane in Tecate.
Now instead of driving right up to the US entry, one has to drive to the regular crossing (up a large hill next to the US border).
Stay on the far left lane and as soon as you can change lanes to the next lane to your left, DO SO IMMEDIATELY. If a cop stops you, show them your RFID and they will then motion you by.
The wait is still 1/3 of the other lanes.

MEXTRANS is grading the dirt area next to the concrete road (the dirt road that ends jus as one nears the top of the hill) and will soon be turned into the RFID ONLY LANE. This lane will then start from the main highway.

BornFisher - 7-30-2012 at 08:23 PM

I talked to an agent last week @ Tecate. She said the Ready Lane will be open on Sunday from 12Pm to 8PM for the next 2 months. They will then evaluate the results, and go from there. What I was thinking is it might take you an hour just to gain access to the lane.

Udo - 7-31-2012 at 04:58 PM

You are correct in your assessment of my directions, Ateo.
I think that the Sunday only thing will go on until Mextrans finishes the approach lane from the main highway in Tecate.

Again, stay on the left lane until you just about reach the top of the hill, then immediately switch lanes (when safe to do so). This new lane now becomes the RFID lane.
My son will be working for the CBP soon and the inside scoop is that CBP is "looking into" assigning a full-time agent to the RFID lane, which is now (on Sundays) the far left lane of the two gates.

Suerte!
Quote:
Originally posted by Ateo
This is good news Udo but I'm confused and will be using this POE soon. Are you sayin' get in the regular line that parallels the border fence but stay in left lane? Any help appreciated. After re-reading your post I think I have it right? Thanks,
Ateo

bacquito - 8-1-2012 at 07:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BornFisher
I talked to an agent last week @ Tecate. She said the Ready Lane will be open on Sunday from 12Pm to 8PM for the next 2 months. They will then evaluate the results, and go from there. What I was thinking is it might take you an hour just to gain access to the lane.


Can you use Sentry at Ready Lane (hope so)??

Udo - 8-1-2012 at 07:37 AM

SENTRI is not available in Tecate...only Otay and San Ysidro

bajaguy - 8-1-2012 at 07:57 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bacquito
Can you use Sentry at Ready Lane (hope so)??





Yes, you can use your SENTRI CARD in any of the Ready lanes as it has the RFID chip.

fandango - 8-1-2012 at 08:00 AM

from the getyouhome website:


What documents can I use to enter the Ready Lane?
WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled cards approved by the Department of Homeland Security include: the U.S. Passport Card; the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL); the Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC); Trusted Traveler Cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST cards); the new Enhanced Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or new Border Crossing Card (BCC).

bacquito - 8-1-2012 at 11:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fandango
from the getyouhome website:


What documents can I use to enter the Ready Lane?
WHTI-compliant, RFID-enabled cards approved by the Department of Homeland Security include: the U.S. Passport Card; the Enhanced Driver's License (EDL); the Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC); Trusted Traveler Cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST cards); the new Enhanced Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or new Border Crossing Card (BCC).


Thanks!

bajadock - 8-2-2012 at 08:09 PM

Udo,
thanks for this news. Prepping for autumn visitors to Ensenada. Are you saying follow the green line in this Tecate border crossing map? Cheer, amigo.

fishingmako - 8-11-2012 at 02:04 PM

Tecate was for July and August only! for RFID

bajadock - 8-18-2012 at 08:18 AM

Please confirm following on Tecate ready lane:
1. Left parallel to normal lane going up the hill...my map earlier
2. Sunday, noon-8pm
3. Expiration of this temporary plan?

Tecate Question

bajaguy - 8-18-2012 at 08:43 AM

Thread hijack....but is is about Tecate..:lol:

Will have friends visiting from Tuscon and will cross at Tecate.
We want to meet them on the US side.

Where on the US side near the border can we meet....cafe, fast food place, gas station.....????

Thanks

DENNIS - 8-18-2012 at 08:49 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Where on the US side near the border can we meet....cafe, fast food place, gas station.....????

Thanks


There's a small shopping center on the US side....convenience store with gas etc.
Not much else around there.

bajaguy - 8-18-2012 at 08:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
Where on the US side near the border can we meet....cafe, fast food place, gas station.....????

Thanks


There's a small shopping center on the US side....convenience store with gas etc.
Not much else around there.





Thanks, Dennis

bajadock - 8-20-2012 at 09:23 AM

Attempted crossing at TJ/SY with medical pass in that special lane yesterday/Sunday. Lane was backed up/full, so cops told me to do a lap and the lane would open up in 5 minutes.

Fortunate me that I know how to do that circuit. Upon return to the medical lane, it is still full. Cop says come back in 15 minutes. I pulled over to left, just past cop shack to wait. Another cop tells me that I can 't wait there and come back in 40 minutes. MEXICO!

Drove to Tecate for Ready Lane. 90 minutes at 1pm. Noticed an entry to left hand Ready Lane from south that enters at top of hill. That short cut would have saved me 30 minutes.

SENTRI forthcoming.

Ateo - 9-2-2012 at 08:45 PM

Today, at Tecate, FULL OBVIOUS SIGNS DECLARING THE READY LANE.

5 minutes.............

Regular lanes were about 150 cars each. Looked like I saved about 1.5 hours.

I'm not promoting the Ready Lane as more people will increase my wait.

DON'T DO IT!



:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

BornFisher - 9-2-2012 at 09:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Ateo
Today, at Tecate, FULL OBVIOUS SIGNS DECLARING THE READY LANE.

5 minutes.............

Regular lanes were about 150 cars each. Looked like I saved about 1.5 hours.

I'm not promoting the Ready Lane as more people will increase my wait.

DON'T DO IT!



:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:


Perfect!! That is a grand slam for a Sunday. Couple of things-- today is the second day of a three day weekend, thus less traffic. And last I heard, the Ready Lane @ TKT was a pilot program, Sunday only from 12PM to 8PM. I hope they continue and expand to everyday!!

Ateo - 9-2-2012 at 09:19 PM

Yes. Expanded weekend for sure......didn't even think about that. That probably helped.

The US Border Patrol inspector was changing shifts and was telling the other inspector something about the Ready Lane being down......and he had 30 minute segments of no Ready Lane people.........I have no idea what that even means, but it translated into 5 minutes!


Quote:
Originally posted by BornFisher
Quote:
Originally posted by Ateo
Today, at Tecate, FULL OBVIOUS SIGNS DECLARING THE READY LANE.

5 minutes.............

Regular lanes were about 150 cars each. Looked like I saved about 1.5 hours.

I'm not promoting the Ready Lane as more people will increase my wait.

DON'T DO IT!



:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:


Perfect!! That is a grand slam for a Sunday. Couple of things-- today is the second day of a three day weekend, thus less traffic. And last I heard, the Ready Lane @ TKT was a pilot program, Sunday only from 12PM to 8PM. I hope they continue and expand to everyday!!