Patent ID: 7336203

Claim:
A traffic control system for expediting traffic flow at an international border crossing and border inspection station, the traffic control system comprising a traffic control center and a virtual traffic lane, wherein the traffic control center is physically distant from the international border crossing and border inspection station, and the virtual traffic lane comprises a route of travel between the traffic control center and the border, and wherein the virtual traffic lane comprises a plurality of monitoring stations, disposed between the traffic control center and the border crossing, for monitoring traffic conditions along a selected route of travel; wherein the traffic control center receives traffic bound for the border crossing, the traffic control center monitors and stores data relating to traffic flow between the traffic control center and the border crossing; wherein the traffic control center comprises a screening component and a queuing component; wherein the screening component determines whether or not a vehicle is prepared to cross the border according to established guidelines, directs prepared vehicles to the queuing component, and directs unprepared vehicles to an area reserved for unprepared vehicles; and wherein the queuing component provides a sequential ordering for vehicles to advance to the virtual traffic lane.