[ale] Fwd: Jim - cannot post this message to ALE, please post for me

[Lightner, Jeff]

The passport card is only valid for DRIVING into the U.S.

If you fly in (even from Canada or Mexico) you have to have your passport to get back in.  This is also true for flying in from Bahamas, Bermuda and anywhere in the Caribbean.   Those countries might still let you in without a passport but coming back would be a whole other story.

The funny thing is I don't really remember whether I had my laptop with me 2 years ago when I drove to Canada.  I think I did and if so I didn't get stopped but again my thoughts on the likelihood has changed since I saw the story a year or so ago.   I do remember the previous time I drove into Canada they were mainly concerned with whether I had any guns or knives.

So the question comes did the TSA give a reason for seizing your devices?  What did they say when they returned them?  How long did they keep them?





-----Original Message-----
From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of Jay Lozier
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 9:14 PM
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
Subject: Re: [ale] Fwd: Jim - cannot post this message to ALE, please post for me

On 05/07/2012 03:10 PM, Jim Lynch wrote:
> On 05/07/2012 02:57 PM, Rich Faulkner wrote:
>> I travel a fair amount and have since 9/11...had tools confiscated by
>> TSA (in December 2001) but have had no issues since.  Go through
>> security with lots of h/w (USB-HDD, media, laptops, you name it) w/o
>> issue.  Canada/US border does require valid passport card or
>> passport.  The passport card is good for travel on this
>> continent...otherwise you need a full-blown passport to go overseas.
>> (Don't know about Bahamas or points South regarding passport cards).
>> Before 9/11 you could go to Nassau w/o a passport and on just a valid
>> DL.  But now.....
>>
> I travel out of the country 4 or 5 times a year.  Most of the time, the
> airline asks for your passport before they will let you on a plane.  I
> know of nowhere from which you can get back into the US without a
> passport or equivalent.  I've not seen anyone at TSA or Customs that has
> paid any attention to laptops on any of my trips.  I've also heard about
> the confiscations but it's not widespread from my experience.  I travel
> about half the time with a netbook or laptop.
>
> Jim.
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>
In my very limited international travel (all pre 9/11) I saw one person
get searched by US Customs at JFK while reentering the US (1970's). I
was the next person and watched this. I do not remember if the person
was arrested or had to pay an immediate fine to enter.I think his
contraband was seized. Another time, when entering Canada, I was hand
carry some tools and testing samples for some testing I was doing.
Canadian customs was very interested in them but were satisfied with my
answers. On another trip to Canada, once I mentioned where I was going
the company I was visiting I was waived through.

Customs and passport control have always been point of possible search
wiht contraband seizure even pre 9/11.

--
Jay Lozier
jslozier at gmail.com

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