U.S. Stiffens ID Rules For Americans, Others At All Border Crossings; A Damper On Businesses?; Many firms along borders look to the opposite side for workers and customers.(A)

Byline: DONNA HOWELL

No more trips to Toronto or Tijuana without papers in order.

The federal government is phasing in a security crackdown that by 2008 will require passports or a special travel ID at all air, sea and land border crossings. What's still up in the air is how it will affect cross-border commerce. And, what nonpassport IDs will be accepted.

"If they ask only for passports that's a real deterrent. Many people just say, "Yes, I go to Tijuana three times a week and just use my driver's license,' " said Angelika Villagrana, public policy director at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. "It's daily work too. Because we have so many crossers that come to work in the U.S. and executives going back and forth."

The Tijuana area contributes 7%-8% of retail sales in San Diego, according to one study.

The first part of the travel documents plan, revealed Tuesday by the Department of Homeland Security, kicks in at the end of this year. It mandates passports or special IDs for air and sea travel to or from the Caribbean, Bermuda, and Central and South America. That extends to Mexico and Canada at the end of 2006. A year later it spreads to all border crossings.

People traversing land borders will probably be able to use one of four special travel IDs instead of a passport, the government says. They are the SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST program cards and the Border Crossing Card, or "laser visa," popular among Mexican entrants to the U.S.