Planning ahead, picking the right line some keys to border crossing success
Posted May 21, 2018 7:42 am.
Last Updated May 22, 2018 8:17 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
RICHMOND (NEWS 1130) – With another long weekend soon to be in the books, you’re either considering a last-minute dash to Washington state, or trying to plan your return from a few day vacation.
But for many, waiting in the lineup can be a source of nearly-endless frustration.
There are, however, some entirely non-scientific tips from NEWS 1130’s Peter Wagner, who crosses the line every day, which could make things just a little easier on you.
Wait times
Agencies on both sides of the border release border wait data, which isn’t always exact, but gives you a sense of where volume is heavy.
“Listen to a border report or look for one while you’re heading to the border, then check again when you’re within about five minutes,” says Wagner.
“That seems pretty obvious, but if one crossing is showing a long wait, and a nearby one isn’t, you can bet the volume will start to shift the other way,” he adds, noting that could mean you’ll end up caught in a line that is much longer than you were expecting.
Also consider using the Aldergrove or Sumas crossings, which can sometimes have considerably shorter wait times.
When you get into Washington state, the road systems are almost universally designed as a farm-grid, making navigating to I-5 fairly easy.
When you’re at the border
Picking the line is a bit like hurling a dart into a dark room. But there are some signs to watch for that could help you make it to the front of the line faster.
For instance, if you’re behind a number of cars with license plates from places that don’t touch a border, they might take longer to process, Wagner says. The same is usually true of RV’s and large trailers.
And, if you think showing up in the wee hours of the morning is a sure-fire way to beat the lines, it doesn’t always work that way.
“They usually have fewer lanes open at off hours, so even 10 or 11 cars in the line could make for a long wait early in the morning,” says Wagner.
His most basic advice: Just be prepared to wait, like everyone else.
