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United States Pilots Association |
This week I had occassion to purchase a decal from the Customs-Border Patrol section of the Homeland Security Department. The cost was a nominal $25 which I was able to pay on line by credit card. Upon accepting my credit card, the government sent me a thank you via E-Mail for the payment of $25 "OPTIONAL BORDER CROSSING USER FEE CHARGE."
Separately, this week I read that effective January 23 of 2007, we citizens of the United States will only be permitted to cross the border back into our country by producing a valid passport issued by the United States Government. The cost for this item $127, plus pictures, plus FEDEX for expedited service, if you absolutely need to traverse the border frequently. What do you want to bet that the government cannot possibly process all of the requests they get before January 23 and still get the documents to the necessary people? What happens to those legitimate citizens who try to drive back into the country after January 23 who do not have have passports? Do we deport our own people? And to where do we deport them?
Regarding the decal, the same information they require to issue the decal is available in ten seconds on the FAA's website for all to see at no cost. The Customs/Border Patrol inspector can get that information in ten seconds by pulling up your N number.
I have no way to verify the cost of issuing a passport. One can only (hope) presume the HSA is verifying who is applying, etc. However, since I held a previous passport, does it not make sense they have that information on file somewhere?
In the game of football we call it piling on. Do you know that in Honolulu, Hawaii, at HNL, the local police have a mandatory checkpoint if you are attempting to access the General Aviation side of the airport? Accepted means of identity? Why, it's an American passport. What do you want to bet HSA will come out with a requirement that everyone using any facility on an airport must have a passport in the future?
My opinion is this. The imposition of so called user fees to incur revenue for services that the government should already provide, (read this as air traffic control, etc.) is insidious and probably against public policy. Unless we band together, I am sure we will see more and more of this type of additional taxation levied against us as time goes by.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association