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New border ID rules apply to boaters

By Meg Olson

With longer days and warmer weather boaters are itching to get out on the water, and this year they’ll need to remember to pack proof of citizenship along with the sunscreen.

A new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requirement for everyone entering the U.S. to have proof of citizenship may not apply to a boater who stayed in U.S. waters, or just cruised around out there, but Point Roberts CBP port director Mary Riggle says it’s a good idea to carry it anyway.

“We can’t always tell where you’re coming from so if an officer tells you to pull over, pull over,” she said.

Point Roberts is only one of five ports in the Puget Sound area where boaters can enter the U.S. without making an appointment first. Today boaters coming from Canadian waters can call the port between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and an inspector will come down from the port of entry on Tyee Drive at the border to clear the vessel. Starting in mid-May inspectors will be available to clear boats coming into the marina from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on busy weekends officers may remain on site.

“If a boat has been out fishing, crabbing, touched land, dropped anchor or contacted another boat while in Canadian waters they need to report,” Riggle said. Boaters do not need to report if they remained on the U.S. side of the line or made “innocent passage” through Canada. “That’s just a pleasure cruise with no stops or contact,” Riggle said.

Arriving in Point Roberts boats that need to report should go directly to the customs dock, where either the master or a designate should either report to a customs officer on site with the boat’s registration number and identification of all passengers, or go to the pay phone next to Westwind Marine and call the port at 945-5211. “We will come and clear you as soon as we can,” Riggle said. All other passengers and luggage or gear must remain on board until the vessel has been cleared.

Riggle strongly suggests boaters try to arrive during the hours where inspectors are available to come to the marina, or call ahead to make an appointment for an after-hours inspection. “If you call after hours you’re risking spending the night on your boat,” she said.

“We do need to do a face to face unless they are NEXUS or I-68 members,” Riddle said. She recommended frequent users of the local marina apply for one of these alternative inspection programs, as well as getting a boater registration number at the port-of-entry. NEXUS applications are available online at www.getnexus.com and boaters can get an I-68 membership by bringing proof of citizenship and boat registration information to the port of entry. “These things can really expedite processing,” she said.

Boats over 30 feet that come and go between U.S. and Canadian waters also need to get a CBP decal and pay an annual user fee of $27.50. The decals are available at the port of entry and online at www.cbp.gov under the travel tab.