see also: in November 2008:   Thanksgiving Day Marijuana Seizure Yields 450 Pounds at Douglas Port of Entry   Registered Sex Offender Intercepted by CBP at Pacific Highway Entry   CBP Officers Seize 145 Pounds of Ecstasy at Vermont Entry   CBP Officers in Boston Seize Undeclared $19,300   CBP Officers in Niagara Falls Arrest Man Wanted in California   Customs and Border Protection Officers in New York Arrest Imposter ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers CBP Border Wait Times

contacts for this news release

San Diego, - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is improving cross-border travel at the Otay Mesa port of entry, by installing Radio Frequency Identification Technology, officials announced today.

Special RFID antennas scheduled for installation, on all 13 vehicle lanes, at the Otay Mesa border crossing will detect improved documents before vehicles arrive at the port inspection booths, thus speeding the flow of traffic and reducing border wait times. The use of RFID technology will provide CBP officers with passenger and law enforcement information resulting in a more secure and efficient border crossing.

Construction to install the RFID technology will begin on December 2, and is scheduled for completion by December 19. From December 2 through December 19, two lanes will be closed and under construction at a time, with each lane taking approximately two days to complete.

Installation of the RFID technology is another phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the Congressional mandate requiring a WHTI-compliant document denoting both citizenship and identity by June 1, 2009. Standardized, secure travel documents, recommended by the 9/11 Commission and required by law, will enable CBP officers to rapidly identify and process travelers.

U.S. travelers are urged to apply now for their passport card, SENTRI port pass or enhanced driver’s license from participating states, all of which incorporate a new vicinity RFID chip that will be read by the installed RFID antennas. More information on the application process is available on the CBP and State Department’s Web sites.

RFID is a secure technology that captures a unique identifier, a randomly assigned number in a microchip embedded in the document just as the traveler approaches the border inspection station. No personal data is contained or transmitted by the RFID cards; the numerical identifier serves only as a pointer to gather information for the officer from the CBP secure network.

Travelers are encouraged to prepare for cross border activity in advance. Travelers should obtain local border traffic conditions by visiting the CBP Web site. ( CBP Border Wait Times ) A pre-recorded telephone message updated hourly with current port wait time and lane information is available by calling (619) 671-8999.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.