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First things first, the editorializing. Pay the extra bucks and get a real passport, already, okay? Now, from the State Department:
The passport card facilitates entry and expedites document processing at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry when arriving from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. The card may not be used to travel by air. Otherwise, it carries the rights and privileges of the U.S. passport book and is adjudicated to the exact same standards.--US DoS
What? Huh? Budget Travel has nailed the Q&A on the new ID including answering the "Why would I bother" question.
Think of passport cards as similar to—though not exactly like—the EZ Pass electronic toll collection system that's popular on Northeast toll roads. Border officers can access photographs and biographical information on your passport card from 20 feet away because each card contains a radio frequency identification chip. Officers pull up your info on their electronic devices before you reach them, speeding up the process. Your traditional passport can't do that.
Though I suspect it's a matter of your traditional passport can't do that...YET.
And what about that RFID chip that's in there? There's a very short thread on the Rick Steves boards that explains what that thing does - and the state department isn't exactly hiding that information. The chip holds a code, the code points to your records. Word is that there's no data beyond that code in the chip.
The house is again pushing the Lonely Planet sponsored (whoa, there are Lonely Planet lobbyists?) National Passport Month for September. From the CBS5 newswire:
The resolution calls on President Bush to urge state and federal entities to observe the month with ceremonies and educate people on the benefits of international travel.
"Traveling abroad promotes understanding and goodwill,'' Lee stated. "When people connect with other people, it opens the doors to increased peace, tolerance and acceptance.''
I can get behind this. The number of Americans with passports is still under 30% The only thing I can see wrong with this plan is that National Passport Month should be in early spring when we're all planning our summer getaways. It takes time to get a passport and you don't want to leave it for the last minute.
Are you still reading this? Go get your passport, already.
Photo from hjl on Flickr
Pam blogs about travel and other adventures at Nerd's Eye View. Join the conversation about traveblogging in the Travelblogger's Forum.
