Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Garita Otay Ready Lane Today, 10/4/2011
bajaguy's excellent instructions took us from the Rosarito Free Road entrance near Fox Studios and the Popotla residential development.
At exactly 26 miles, we used the well-signed off ramp for the Otay border crossing which put us on Blvd. Industrial.
The problem occurred after the right turn at the tire store.
The line for the Ready Lane extended far beyond that area and no one wanted to let us in.
So we circled back around and up to the airport approach and joined the line where you can do a U-turn and turn left at the stop sign.
After the maneuvers, we joined the wait line at 9:36 a.m. and got to the CPB window at 10:41 a.m.
The grouchy DPB sent us to secondary, which took about forty-five minutes of waiting and inspection.
We still got our daughter to the Amtrak for her ride home on time.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
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any idea how much time you saved in the ready line? I just paid 70 bucks for the card today. ( i wasnt prepared to surrender my book for a month).
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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$70 USD for a Passport Card!?!
This is a rip-off.
We live in Mexico and made our application to the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana.
$15.00 U.S. per person for my husband and myself.
We did not surrender our passports; the consulate expedited our application and we picked up our Passport cards in three days.
The consulate notified us by email. The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana wants to expand their outreach to create a better presence in the ex-pat community
and they hold regular seminars in TJ and Rosarito
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html...
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2120
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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65 minutes and then 45 more sounds terrible.
If you called before you left, what did they say the wait was (I ask for future reference)?
Also, how many lanes did the Ready Lane split into? 3? 4?
Keep the reports coming, all are helpful.
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Garita Otay Wait Time Report
Sorry, I don't know of one, but I am sure it exists.
An hour wait at the Ready Lane is in contrast to our last five times when it was fifteen or less minutes.
A Mexican friend told us that they are going to build a crossing at Playas de Tijuana very soon. They are excited about that.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BornFisher
Also, how many lanes did the Ready Lane split into? 3? 4?
Keep the reports coming, all are helpful. |
The Ready Lane splits into 5 inspection booths, about 6 car lengths back of the electronic readers
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
Posts: 2120
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by BornFisher
Also, how many lanes did the Ready Lane split into? 3? 4?
Keep the reports coming, all are helpful. |
The Ready Lane splits into 5 inspection booths, about 6 car lengths back of the electronic readers |
5 is the max the line splits into. I`ve seen it with 2, 3, 4 or 5.
I was asking Jan to how many lanes were open, because 65 minutes is way longer than normal.
I encountered a different problem today. The military check point at Popotla was backed up something terrible! I flipped a U turn and got on the pay
road to SY. Crossed in 30 minutes, so not bad. But in Jan`s case, that would have added another 25 minutes or so. So 25 + 65 + 45 = long time to
cross the fence!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Well.........
"They" said that there would be 5 booths open.......I don't know if that's all the time or what.
When we were S/B at Popotla Monday (4PM) the N/B line at the checkpoint was backed up.
We finally got the green light for the SENTRI sticker for our 2nd vehicle, appointment is Friday morning at Otay.......hopefully there won't be a
backup at the Ready Lane.
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SoCal-Bob
Junior Nomad
Posts: 52
Registered: 10-11-2010
Location: So Cal
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I crossed at Otay going into Mexico yesterday at 10am. I could see the northbound Ready Lane on the far left, blocked by concrete barricades.
I was amazed to see about 100 cars in the ready lane with almost no line of cars in the regular lanes. 
We returned in the afternoon about 4pm. Two cars ahead of us in the regular lines with only 3 booths open. Took me 5 minutes to get through the
border.
Meanwhile, there were about 50 cars in the Ready Lane. Suckers.
So, it may not be faster all the time.
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Gypsy Jan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4275
Registered: 1-27-2004
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Mood: Depends on which way the wind is blowing
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Only Four Ready Lanes Open This Tuesday
And two of the regular, non-Ready Lane gates were closed.
Huge line of cars in all lanes.
Maybe there was a heightened security watch. Lots of contraband-sniffing dogs going round the vehicles.
The CBP agent at our gate was unfriendly and asked several sharp questions.
In secondary, we were admonished to stay inside the vehicle.
When we explained our concern about our dog, we were ordered to stay inside and then, when the inspectors arrived, we were ordered to exit, with
dog.
The inspectors went through our vehicle, up, over and under, including raising the hood and inspecting the engine compartment.
While we were standing around outside, some of the other agents wandered over and asked questions about our dog.
All went well and we got the dog back into our vehicle about two minutes before one of the contraband-sniffing dogs entered our parking area.
Exit to the sound of barking.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
\"Alea iacta est.\"
—Julius Caesar
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