For drivers traveling regularly between San Diego and Orange counties, a special commuter lane at the northbound immigration checkpoint near San Clemente can save precious time. Electronic transponders installed on drivers' windshields behind their rearview mirrors are replacing bar code window stickers to identify vehicles that have been approved for the commuter lane. The transponders send signals to the agents instantaneously and let them know this is a pre-approved PAL vehicle.
Commuters can then proceed without sitting through normal delays at the checkpoint.
There is no cost to use the lane or to have a transponder installed. The lane was built in response to a congressional threat to shut down the checkpoint unless improvements to accommodate traffic were made. It closes during heavy traffic delays. In order to get a PAL pass, drivers must be fingerprinted, photographed and pass a federal criminal background check. PAL users must be U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted residents, such as foreign students, and have no convictions for narcotics trafficking, alien smuggling or resisting an officer.