PORT ANGELES — The first day of travel between Canada and the North Olympic Peninsula went as smoothly as it has elsewhere in the state.
New, tougher ID rules that are now in effect were no problem.
People had their papers.
Most even had the passports they will need when stricter federal requirements go into effect in June 2009.
Beginning Thursday, all land and sea travelers entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the Caribbean were asked to show a birth certificate and a standard driver’s license; a high-tech “enhanced” driver’s license; a passport; or a “trusted traveler card” like that issued by Nexus, a federal prescreening program.
Prior to Thursday, a photo ID and verbal declaration of citizenship were enough.
And, for now — unless an officer suspects something is amiss — anyone without the required documents is merely handed a one-page explanation of the new rules and allowed into the country.
The first day of the new border-crossing rules was Friday for the Victoria Express II passenger ferry.
The ferry, which usually provides service between Port Angeles and Victoria from May through September, is making weekend runs while the year-round MV Coho is out of service for its two-week annual dry-dock maintenance in Seattle.
“I already have a passport, so it was no problem for me,” said Patty Goff, upon returning from Victoria on Friday afternoon aboard the Victoria Express.
“You saw how fast it went.”
Eric Retterbush of Kirkland echoed that sentiment after disembarking.
“I already have a passport, so it wasn’t a problem for me.”
Patricia Shields of McMinnville, Ore., who visited Victoria while on vacation, said, “Oh yes, I’ve had a passport for years.”
Anne Marie Christensen from Vermont and Medora Ebert from Hanover, N.H., who were on their way to Bainbridge Island after visiting Victoria, also didn’t have any problem crossing the border.
“Oh yes, I thought you needed a passport so I made sure I had one,” she said.
Jason Chestnut, who was born in the United States but lives in Nitinaht, British Columbia, lacked a passport, but he did have a driver’s license and birth certificate.
That worked fine.
