Feds to approve B.C. border crossing plan

OLYMPIA – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will approve Washington state’s pilot project for use of enhanced driver’s licenses, rather than passports, by Americans crossing the border into British Columbia, but has rejected a plan for guards to use hand-held scanners to check regular licenses, officials say.

State officials said Friday the enhanced licenses could provide an alternative to the more expensive passport expected to be required for land and sea travel in June 2009.

The government’s decision not to authorize the scanners means the state is out the $100,000 investment it made in the new technology.

At the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire, the Legislature is rushing through authorization of the optional enhanced license, which will incorporate proof of citizenship and Washington residency and allow search of federal databanks, including criminal records.

The licenses will cost $40, must be picked up in person at a driver’s license office and should be available in January. In the meanwhile, until June 2009, regular licenses will suffice at the border crossings.

Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Homeland Security Department, will travel here on March 23 to sign papers allowing the state to use the enhanced license as the country’s first pilot project to test a cheaper, secure alternative to a $97 passport, said state Senate Transportation Chairwoman Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke declined to confirm Friday that the agency has approved the enhanced license and rejected the scanner project.

But he said Washington state is “at the forefront in putting forward an innovative program for licenses that can be more secure and fulfill the important security requirements we are working on.”

The federal government is working closely with Washington on what could be a national model, he said, adding Michigan has begun work on a similar approach.

Canada will be asked to authorize a similar card for British Columbia, state officials said.

“The goal has been to continue having a driver’s license as the border-crossing document, and Homeland Security is agreeing to pilot it and test it out,” said Antonio Ginatta, executive policy adviser to Gregoire.