The AP/New York Times reports on how some parents fail to fully plan their vacations (excerpt):
The State Department denies passports to noncustodial parents who owe more than $2,500 in child support. Once the parents make good on their debts, they can reapply for passports.
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In all, states have reported collecting at least $22.5 million through the program so far in 2007. The money is then forwarded to the parent to whom it is owed.
It took all of 2006 to collect the same amount under the program, which began in 1998.
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The passport denial program is just one of several tools the government has to collect overdue child support. Overall collections totaled about $24 billion last year.