Ok, maybe the title of my blog post is a bit exaggerated. Anthony Graffeo, a TMC co-worker and I were in a business trip (hence no blogging for past couplr of days) when we got off of Research Turnpike in Huntsville, Alabama and used our "trusty" AVIS paper map to determine we had to make a right turn. Unfortunately, the AVIS map didn't take into account the off ramp which circles you in such as way that it changes the orientation. In any event, we drove for about a mile when when all of a sudden we were going through what appeared to be a toll booth. When we got closer, a uniformed policeman asked Anthony (the driver) "Pass please?". I thought he could tell that we were driving a rental car, so I handed him our AVIS rental car paperwork. He said "No, you need a military base pass. Please pull over to the shoulder."
A second officer then asked Anthony for his license which he promptly wrote down on a sheet of paper on a clipboard. Anthony asked, "What did we do?" and the officer explained "You're in a restricted area."
Great...
"You've entered the Huntsville NASA Marshal Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal".
"This sounds pretty serious" I thought to myself, "Gitmo here I come!".
There were no warning signs, no turn abouts to avoid entering the base - nothing. I showed the officer our "trusty" AVIS map with a highlighted yellow line showing how we were trying to get to Days Inn. He then processed to give us directions, which was a positive sign, but I still wondered if Anthony was going to get a ticket. He told us they were going to keep Anthony's license and return it on the opposite side of the road to ensure he doesn't go on the base. The turn around was 1/4 mile towards the base, but there was nothing stopping us from continuing towards the base.
Me pondering, "So if I was Al-Qaida with a fake ID I could simple give my fake ID over and get access to the base?"
Of course, the guy holding the licenses knows it shouldn't take longer than 3-5 minutes for cars to pick up their license after turning around 1/4 of a mile up the road, so I suppose they could sound the alert if a long period of time elapses. For all I know, there's a second checkpoint as well.
Moral of the story?
Rent a car with Hertz NeverLost. Unfortunately, the Alabama Hertz car rental in the airport didn't have any cars with NeverLost. We asked...
Why is it that no other car rental company offers a GPS system? Hertz offered this system like what - 10 years ago? How is it that none of their competitors have copied them yet? Many people would be willing to pay an extra $10/day.to have a stress-free driving experience.
I think it may be time to buy a TomTom Go portable GPS device
to take on trips or just take my iPaq which runs Destinator1 GPS software on it. (though the GPS Y-connector has been a bit flaky causing the iPaq to not charge when pluggied into my cigarette lighter.
<sigh> Sounds like it might be time to spend $500-$700 for a new portable GPS device.
Nearly arrested for trespassing on military base
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Avis does rent GPS navigators for about $10 per day. Maybe not in Huntsville since it's not so big a place. I see them at BWI in Baltimore where I rent only from Avis.
But I have long used a portable Garmin eTrex Vista GPS handheld when traveling. And the new Vista C is like a small version of the StreetPilot car version, with auto routing built in and excellent alerts and advance notice of turns. However, it doesn't know about restricted routes, so that wouldn't have helped you specifically, but it probably would have helped you graphically see that you took the first of 3 possibilities off the route from the airport rather than the correct 3rd one.
OTOH, you made a big deal of a small matter. You were not in danger of arrest. You were at the entrance checkpoint, and if not qualified to enter, you are just told to turn around. No big deal. They don't see a terrorist inside every mistaken approach. No alarmist exaggerations are needed here fortunately.
>>OTOH, you made a big deal of a small matter. You were not in danger of arrest.
Yeah, I know. That was just hyperbole on my part. Made for a more interesting read.
>>Avis does rent GPS navigators for about $10 per day.
Interesting. I did not know that. Funny, they are doing a terrible job marketing it. Everyone knows Hertz NeverLost - no one knows the Avis equivalent.
>>graphically see that you took the first of 3 possibilities off the route from the airport
I take it you are familiar with this part of Alabama? Wow, I must have blog readers everywhere then! (more hyperbole).
Seriously though, do you work in the research park for any VoIP-related company that I should be aware of or just a VoIP enthusiast that reads my blog?