AAA Colorado ~ EnCompass Magazine

November | December 2006
Volume 80 Issue 6

Member Feedback
Feeling breathless?
We would like to see an article about traveling with oxygen.

-Delores Rhode, via email

Editor's Note: It's an important and timely topic. See our story, "Flying with Medical Oxygen."

Mismatched letter and writer
Editor's Note: In the September/ October issue, letter writer Jim Whitmer was incorrectly matched with the wrong letter. We apologize for the error. Following is the letter he wrote: I disagree with your pursuit of a Primary Seat Belt Law.

If a Primary Seat Belt Law ever becomes mandatory, every vehicle on the road will offer a "probable cause" for a traffic stop, to say nothing about over-zealous communities that will use it to enhance revenue.

In a democracy, self-protection should be the responsibility of the individual, not the state. Twenty-eight years ago, I joined AAA for travel assistance and discounts, but not to act as my political representative. I hope that this letter serves as a wake-up call.

-Jim Whitmer, Lafayette

Black Hills bonus
In early June of this year, my husband and I took a trip to the Black Hills, so the article in your July/August issue of EnCompass was of great interest to us.

There is a great attraction just south of Lead, S.D., that seems to be unknown. It is the President's Park. Sculptor David Adicks was inspired by the grandeur of Mt. Rushmore and set out in 1995 to create his own tribute to the American presidency. All 43 presidents, including George W. Bush, are situated on a half-mile concrete walk-way in chronological order.

President's Park is located about five miles southwest of Lead, off U.S. 85. This is a "must see"! Please pass this on to your readers.

-B. Zonker, via email

Passport clarification
I was horrified by your article on changes to passport requirements [Sept./Oct.]. The first part of the article states that "U.S. citizens and foreign nationals will need to show a valid passport on all air and sea border crossings to and from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, Bermuda and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands." Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. possessions. To require a passport here would be tantamount to an internal passport requirement to travel between states.

-Greg Glazner, via email

Editor's Note: Mr. Glazner is absolutely correct, and the statement as written is incorrect — traveling between the United States and its possessions does not require a passport. However, if a U.S. citizen travels outside the United States (such as to the Bahamas) and wants to visit Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, then he or she will have to show a valid passport to get into that U.S. possession (just as he or she would need to do to re-enter the United States). To get the most current information, go to the only official website for U.S. passport information, www.travel.state.gov/passport, or call 877-487-2778.

Let us hear from you

Letters less than 200 words are considered first. Letters published in EnCompass do not necessarily reflect the opinion of AAA Colorado and, due to space limitations, we reserve the right to edit for length and clarity. Send letters to the editor, EnCompass, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222. Fax to: 303-300-7710. Email: editor@colorado.aaa.com. Letters become property of AAA Colorado and are not returned.