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Government/Legislation
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U.S. DOT bans loose lithium batteries from airplanes
Effective January 1, 2008, the U.S. Department of Transportation will no longer allow air passengers to travel with loose lithium batteries in their carry-on luggage or checked bags. However, two “extended-life rechargeable lithium batteries” may be carried onboard if stored in plastic bags or their original packaging. Lithium batteries may be packed in checked luggage if installed in an electronic device. Lithium batteries are the type commonly used by cell phones, cameras, and laptops.
These new restrictions aim to reduce the likelihood of fires caused when loose lithium batteries overheat and start on fire. “Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires,” said Krista Edwards, Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, Business Travel News, Los Angeles Times
New land and sea U.S. entry requirements take effect end of January
The second phase of the U.S. Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) takes effect January 31, 2008. Beginning then, travelers entering the U.S. by land or sea from the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean must present either a passport or a birth certificate with another government-issued photo ID to gain entry. Entry requirements for Mexican nationals will not change—regardless of age, they must show a passport issued by the Mexican government, and a visa or valid Border Crossing Card or SENTRI card.
This new rule affects all travelers arriving via trains, motor vehicles, cruises, ferries, and/or private boats. Travelers who attempt to enter the U.S. without the required documentation must go through secondary screening, and their U.S. citizenship must be verified before they will be allowed past customs checkpoints.
The first phase of the WHTI, which applied the same entry requirements to travelers arriving to the U.S. by aircraft, began in mid 2007.
For more details on the WHTI, please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/whtibasics.shtm.
Sources: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chicago Tribune, CWT Traveler
