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Last week, up to 650,000 would-be travelers a day were flooding into the Erie County Auto Bureaus trying to beat the deadline. In all, Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul said about 30,000 people have come in for enhanced driver's licenses since the new rules were announced. Starting today, you need either the enhanced license, a passport or a nexus card. So, are you out of luck if you don't have any of those? Hochul said there is an unofficial grace period - but hurry.

She said United States Customs officials said that people would be allowed to cross, for a short, undetermined amount of time,with the paperwork for their enhanced license, driver's license and birth certificate.

But, keep in mind she said that no one is saying how long the grace period will be in place. And people without proper documentation will be subject to secondary questioning and long delays at customs.

Hochul said the enhanced license will still probably be the quickest bet if someone needs or wants to go over the border this summer without hassle. You'll still need a passport if you want to leave the border by air. But Hochul said having a license too might make sense for Western New Yorkers.

And don't forget to remind out of town family and friends who come to visit that the new border crossing rules apply to them too. And Hochul said they very likely might come from a state that doesn't offer enhanced licenses as an option. © Copyright 2009, WBFO