Juan Tintos, longtime ""Tourism Official for Baja California Norte, on Wednesday backed legislation creating a special California driver’s license to help speed up wait times at border crossings, saying the economies of both states would benefit.
“Let
us continue to build bridges that will unite us and not walls that will
divide us,” Baja California Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos urged in his
testimony to California lawmakers.
Sen.
Ben Hueso, D-San Diego, is carrying legislation that would initiate a
voluntary “enhanced drivers license” for California residents who
frequently visit Mexico. The licenses would be embedded with technology
that allows border agents to use scanners to read information from a
distance, thereby helping move vehicle traffic through the “ready lanes”
more quickly.
Without
discussion, the Assembly Appropriations Committee postponed a final vote
until later this month. Although license applicants would pay an extra
fee to cover costs, the Department of Motor Vehicles estimates that
launching the program will take $4.5 million.
Business
interests say the excruciating often hours-long waits cost millions of
dollars in commerce by discouraging cross-border trips for recreation,
shopping and dining.
“I am certain this will strengthen our relationship and economic ties,” Tintos said in his testimony,
In
a later interview, Tintos said Baja California is enjoying one of its
best tourism summers in a decade — up about 25 percent — as security
fears ease and the region’s economy rebounds.
Its
destinations also saw business drop off when the U.S. began requiring a
passport for re-entry, which caused “people to think twice,” he said.
The drug cartel wars also scared away visitors.
“We have made a great deal of progress on our side,” he said.
The
California tourist dollar flows back to the state when Baja California
residents visit San Diego area shops, restaurants and parks, Tintos
said.
Hueso said studies
indicate that California’s economy loses about $1.3 billion a year
because of congestion at ports of entry. Wait times now average 70
minutes and at peak congestion it can take three hours to cross.
“We should ask ourselves: ‘Why are we not doing this?’,” Hueso said.
Jose
Larroque, representing the Smart Border Coalition, told lawmakers: “The
border is not only an incredible economic engine, it is also the
gateway that allows ties among our communities — the flow of relations
in health, education, culture and family.”
If
signed into law, California would become the first state bordering
Mexico to offer such a program. Several states adjacent to Canada
already provide a similar license to about 100,000 drivers.
Tintos said Arizona and Texas are looking to implement a similar program.
By
acting now, Baja California and the state of California will have an
edge, he said. “We’ve got to take the lead,” Tintos said.
License applicants would have to be eligible of a U.S. passport, undergo rigorous security checks and pay more.
There
was no opposition voiced at the committee. But privacy advocates have
expressed concerns that the license could expose drivers to identity
theft and government tracking because the readers are commercially
available.
Gov. Jerry Brown has not taken a position on Senate Bill 397.""
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