Quote Originally Posted by joes spot View Post
called in to report entering canadian water last nite and was told you now need a passport # or enhanced drivers # or nexes # for all on board to enter waters they said this is new for this year this is just for fishing not going on shore
The Department has been working with states to enhance their drivers licenses and identification documents to comply with travel rules under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), effective June 1, 2009.
Enhanced drivers licenses make it easier for U.S. citizens to cross the border into the United States because they include

  • a vicinity Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip that will signal a secure system to pull up your biographic and biometric data for the CBP officer as you approach the border inspection booth, and
  • a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) or barcode that the CBP officer can read electronically if RFID isn't available.

So, basically, if you have a driver's license with the magnetic strip on the back, you already carry an "enhanced driver's lic". Most states already have these in production. Ohio, MI, WI, IN, i know have these already.

This is not a big deal.