DPS North Austin

[tamc9395]

Recently was pulled over by DPS on US 183 frontage road. Someone was in my blind spot as started to make a lane change and DPS was behind me a few cars. Needless to say, I was stopped and I was asked if I saw him. He already said I was just going to a warning when he walked up, but had to run it through it still. All the while, I was looking through my wallet for my CHL since I was carrying. I handed him my DL and told him I had my CHL but it was buried in my wallet. Basically asked if i was carrying and where, I responded and we moved on. I never handed him my CHL, so I assume he already had it from my tags. Very courteous officer and we were all quickly about our day. The only thing I still find strange was that he never asked to see my CHL (which I found while he was writing up the warning).

[carlson1]

Your license plates are NOT connected to your CHL. However your drivers license are connected.

[TexasGal]

Had a LEO tell me while the tags are not connected, it's an easy thing to run the tag, get the owner and dl and bingo, there's the CHL. It just takes longer. Any LEO's on here please correct me if that's incorrect.

[carlson1]

You have to have a DOB to go with the name to pull up DL or CHL. License plate alone tells you the owner of the vehicle and insurance.

[talltex]

I handed him my DL and told him I had my CHL but it was buried in my wallet. Basically asked if i was carrying and where, I responded and we moved on. I never handed him my CHL, so I assume he already had it from my tags. Very courteous officer and we were all quickly about our day. The only thing I still find strange was that he never asked to see my CHL (which I found while he was writing up the warning).

I don't really see it as strange from his perspective...you told him you had a CHL but couldn't locate it. Why would anyone volunteer that info if they didn't have it...by telling him that, you have assured he's going to then ask if you are carrying, but regardless of whether you have it or not, you are allowed to carry in your car under the MPA anyway. He was satisfied that you were telling the truth and when you found it wasn't concerned about it enough to want to see it.

[TexasGal]

You have to have a DOB to go with the name to pull up DL or CHL. License plate alone tells you the owner of the vehicle and insurance.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Hmm, wonder why I was told differently. Good to know since this is a regular question.

[tamc9395]

Perhaps it is time for a refresher for me. I thought you were REQUIRED to show your CHL if you were carrying and that it was not optional. That was the strange part for me. Otherwise the rest of it was KUDO's to the officer for a stopping me for an unintended infraction and being very professional.

[talltex]

Perhaps it is time for a refresher for me. I thought you were REQUIRED to show your CHL if you were carrying and that it was not optional. That was the strange part for me. Otherwise the rest of it was KUDO's to the officer for a stopping me for an unintended infraction and being very professional.

Yes, the law requires you to show it...although there's no penalty for failure to do so...but, in many cases, common sense trumps strict interpretation of the law, and in your situation, I think that's what the officer did. He believed what you said, and took a "no harm , no foul" view of the circumstances and didn't make an issue of it. Props to him handling it in an intelligent and reasonable manner.

[JP171]

You have to have a DOB to go with the name to pull up DL or CHL. License plate alone tells you the owner of the vehicle and insurance.

I also have to question this as I have been stoped several times and asked BEFORE I produce my DL or CHL if I was carrying, sorry Carlson you may be a LEO but I think your incorrect or the LEO's stopping me are making assumptions as to who I am, and no the stops have been in different places by different officers. once is a fluke twice is coincidence 3 or more times is a fact!

[Keith B]

You have to have a DOB to go with the name to pull up DL or CHL. License plate alone tells you the owner of the vehicle and insurance.

I also have to question this as I have been stoped several times and asked BEFORE I produce my DL or CHL if I was carrying, sorry Carlson you may be a LEO but I think your incorrect or the LEO's stopping me are making assumptions as to who I am, and no the stops have been in different places by different officers. once is a fluke twice is coincidence 3 or more times is a fact!

I do know Carlson is correct that they have to run your DL before they can get that info. I think many LEOS are just assuming since it is Texas, and with MPA and CHL, there is a good chance a person may have a weapon in the car.

[OldCurlyWolf]

You have to have a DOB to go with the name to pull up DL or CHL. License plate alone tells you the owner of the vehicle and insurance.

I also have to question this as I have been stoped several times and asked BEFORE I produce my DL or CHL if I was carrying, sorry Carlson you may be a LEO but I think your incorrect or the LEO's stopping me are making assumptions as to who I am, and no the stops have been in different places by different officers. once is a fluke twice is coincidence 3 or more times is a fact!

If shouldn't be the question.

The correct question is in three parts: 1. How Many? 2. What Kind? 3. Where are they?

THEN ask for DL, CHL & Insurance.

[Birdie]

Not a LEO, but I listen to the police scanner a bit. I have heard the dispatcher tell an officer attempting to pull a car over, who the *owner* of the car is and if that person is a CHL holder. So if the car is registered to you . . . .

For example, if I'm pulled over driving DH's car, they'll get his name and the fact that he is a CHL before they walk up to the car. Granted, they would find little old me, who would have to hand over both id's . . . .

[Keith B]

Not a LEO, but I listen to the police scanner a bit. I have heard the dispatcher tell an officer attempting to pull a car over, who the *owner* of the car is and if that person is a CHL holder. So if the car is registered to you . . . .

For example, if I'm pulled over driving DH's car, they'll get his name and the fact that he is a CHL before they walk up to the car. Granted, they would find little old me, who would have to hand over both id's . . . .

I have a slight issue with that in the fact I may not be the one driving, it could be my daughter.

[gigag04]

You have to have a DOB to go with the name to pull up DL or CHL. License plate alone tells you the owner of the vehicle and insurance.

You can search all DL records statewide by name, and see the DOBs and cities associated with the ID. Then narrow from there.

[SewTexas]

Not a LEO, but I listen to the police scanner a bit. I have heard the dispatcher tell an officer attempting to pull a car over, who the *owner* of the car is and if that person is a CHL holder. So if the car is registered to you . . . .

For example, if I'm pulled over driving DH's car, they'll get his name and the fact that he is a CHL before they walk up to the car. Granted, they would find little old me, who would have to hand over both id's . . . .

I have a slight issue with that in the fact I may not be the one driving, it could be my daughter.

that's exactly what I was thinking....it could easily be one of my kids, and tonight it probably would be