Border Crossings: Trying to keep everyone happy

We're sure the residents of U.S./Canadian border towns breathed a sigh of relief recently when they learned that requirements that they purchase a costly passport have been delayed until at least 2009. Even those of us who occasionally like to cross over into Canada were hesitant to purchase a passport on the chance we might want to visit Canada at some point in time.

While there's a delay in the passport requirement, border crossings by the end of January will require a birth certificate as proof of U.S. citizenship - a whole lot cheaper than a passport!

The delay in implementation of the passport requirement (only for motorists and boaters; air travelers will still need a passport) is designed to give those responsible for homeland security time to work out a more equitable system for frequent travelers.

The real victims in the new passport requirement would have been those who live in border towns. These residents zip back and forth across the border just as routinely as local folks drive from Boothbay to Boothbay Harbor and back. Some of them work, shop, and play on the opposite side of the U.S./Canadian border, and have for years.

It's understandable that we need some form of easily identifiable proof of citizenship, but something as costly as a passport may be overkill for border residents. We're sure that those on either side want to feel safe, and we all understand that we've been a bit lax in this respect. Most Maine folks were more than a little disturbed, not to mention embarrassed somewhat, to learn that two of the terrorists involved in the 911 plot had entered our state through Canada, and flown out of the Portland Jetport on their way to participating in the terror attacks. We all asked ourselves, "How could that happen?"

Well, happen it did, so we can appreciate the need to protect our borders. However, doing it in such a way as to stop those we need to stop, and at the same time not hindering the commerce and interaction of those who live along the border between the two countries, is not necessarily going to be easy. They're talking about the possibility of some sort of an ID to make life easier for those who cross daily for legitimate reasons. Let's hope the concept works. If it doesn't, the passport requirement will be in full force by next year, slowing down illegitimate travel, yes, but also hurting traditional border crossings by law-abiding U.S. and Canadian citizens.