Ready Lane Could Cut Border Wait Time

Ready Lane could cut wait time in half

Crossing the border at San Ysidro could take less time than usual with a new program called the Ready Lane.

The Ready Lane aims to cut down on the wait time for crossing the border by using radio frequency ID technology. It works like fast pass transmitters, sending the person's information to the border customs patrol agent via radio waves.

Three Ready Lanes opened Tuesday for the first time. More lanes may be added in the future.

Each person 16 and older in the car must have a Radio Frequency Identification outfitted card in order to use the Ready Lane. This might be a SENTRI card or a "passport card" registered through Homeland Security.

As the car approaches the border, the agent will scan the car for the information before the car reaches the entry point.   

Homeland Security says this could possibly cut down the wait time in half for people who use the Ready Lane versus the regular lane.

"There are two main benefits to the ready lane; the first is security," said Joseph Misenhelter, assistant port director. "This gives us information on who's coming into our country before they arrive at the officer.

"And second the efficiency. It is a lot faster, about 10 to 20 seconds faster per car by having that information in advance," he added.

San Ysidro is the busiest land border entry point in the US with about 90,000 people driving or walking over the border daily.

Now, it will be the only entry with 24-hour Ready Lanes.

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