DPS North Austin

[TxLobo]

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.

Motor Vehicle - database A
Texas Drivers License - database B
Texas CHL - database C
Texas Wanted/Stolen - database C
National Wanted/Stolen - database D

none are connected..

you can run names and dl numbers all day.. none will show a CHL from the state
you can run vehicle tags and none will show a CHL from the state
you CAN run a 29 / TCIC / wanted Texas only and it WILL show the CHL ..

If you are out of State, it will not show up on a TCIC/NCIC return as having a CHL... the out of state agency MUST run a CWQ OR have it coded into their system to run the format..

*Note Some agencies may purchase mobile CAD systems that use a 3rd party software to send queries to DPS.. This third party software may automatically take the dl and submit it to TCIC/NCIC, resulting in a return from the CHL database..

*whew..

CHL is in a different database..

[srothstein]

I believe it has been posted before, both from me and other officers on the board, but there are multiple ways to get the information.

For example, in San Antonio, the city has even more databases than TxLobo has posted. They have a municipal court database that lists all of the tickets issued, with the cars the person was driving and the driver's information. They have a suspect database that lists all of the people reported as suspects in crimes, and the descriptions of the cars they were driving at the time. They have a gang member database, and a database of everyone who is on any police reports and the cars they were driving or owned.

And SAPD has written all of their own software. So, when a driver runs a plate, their software can check all of the databases at once. When the plate returns names from the various databases, it is easy to then run those names for warrants. And of course, the software combines the DL and warrant checks and gets a CHL return. I used to have a very good dispatcher there who would automatically do those checks for me even before some of it was automated as it is now.

So, the CHL is not tied to the registration but it may give the necessary information for the officer to get the DL/CHL returns.

Also, much more likely is that many officers have developed the habit of asking every person they stop if they are armed or have any weapons in the car. I always thought this was a useless question since the bad guys would not answer truthfully and I did not need to worry about the good guys. Not all officers agree with me or my definitions of good and bad guys (and I have to admit there are some good reasons for their arguments). So, some officers ask "do you have any guns with you?" and you may hear "are you carrying right now?" because you have a CHL.

I have several concerns about the government use of databases and our becoming a police state, but I also have to remember that my suspicions are nto always grounded in fact. Sometimes, it really is just coincidence. Sometimes it really is just a police department with a well developed computer system, And sometimes, it is the results of us hearing something slightly differently than what was asked.

[talltex]

Really good information Steve....and it answers alot of questions folks have about why we hear so many differing explanations on this subject.

[TexasGal]

Yes, that explains a lot. So the best answer is "Yes, No, Maybe".

[atxtj]

Not a lot of help, but I was recently stopped by Round Rock PD and he asked me if I was carrying before I presented my ID and CHL. Super cool guy, and as he was walking away I asked him if it showed up I had my chl when he ran my plates, since he knew before I presented it, and he said yes. Take that for what it's worth I guess.

[mikedude]

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).

If he runs your driver's license, you are flagged with a CHL. Regardless of the CHL now days, you can carry in the car w/o one, so really a mute point. With racial profiling policies, you have to gather certain information that documents the stop whether you warn or cite. Sounds like a squared away trooper.