British government is putting into effect a hugely expensive plan ($2.5 billion over the next 10 years, the cost to be passed on to travelers) to collect a wide variety of data on every traveler daring to enter or leave those sceptered isles, whether by air, sea or ground (the Chunnel).

How wide?  Well, everything from name, rank and serial number to your rap sheet, FBI file, automobile license plate and credit card number.  And who knows, probably your FaceBook page and that New Year's-party video your neighbor posted on YouTube. 

Got an outstanding traffic ticket or any other court fine?  Go back home or pay it.  You were once arrested for peeing beer in a dark parking lot and it got turned into a sex-offense charge?  Don’t even bother to pack.  Involved in a messy child-support case that hasn't been settled?  Stay home.