US TO TRY `EXPRESS LANES' AT BORDERS

Travelers who want a fast trip across the border to Canada or Mexico will soon have the choice of paying to use specially-built express lanes at customs posts. The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service said Wednesday the charge of less than $5 a trip will be aimed at reducing border delays of up to four hours during holidays and other peak times.

The experiment will be tried at a US-Canadian border crossing at Blaine, Wash., and at a Mexican border crossing yet to be selected.

The INS said the fees will be used to hire more border staff and to build the express lanes.

However, some Canadians say the levy flies in the face of the trend to open world borders and ease trade flows.