Uncle Sam to spring breakers: Have fun, responsibly

Uncle Sam is giving students traveling South of the border this spring something extra to throw into their beach bags. Each spring, the U.S. Customs Service, INS, and Agriculture Department team up to distribute fliers to springtime revelers heading to Mexico with information on the federal and Texas state regulations governing travel across the U.S.-Mexico border. While Customs officials want young people to have fun during their visit, they also want them to know there is more to spring break than just the beach and the bars. "We do public announcements to forewarn spring breakers of what they can expect when they cross the [U.S-Mexico] border. We don't want to spoil their fun; we just want them to know how to make things easier for themselves," said Judy Turner, a Customs spokeswoman in Houston. The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission is also working with the three federal agencies to help keep spring breakers out of trouble. Travelers receive fliers as they cross the Gateway Bridge between Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico advising them of the dos and don'ts involved in crossing the border:

• Do declare all items purchased in Mexico.
• Do present border officials with proper immigration documentation.
• Don't try to bring illegal drugs, steroids, Cuban cigars or oranges and apples from Mexico back to the United States.