DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

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Right2Carry
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DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#1

Post by Right2Carry »

Arrived in Austin on 1/18/2013 to spend the night in preparation for attending the Guns Across America rally being held at State Capitals across the nation on 1/19/2013. We drove the wife's car down for gas mileage purposes and I failed to notice her inspection sticker was out until we started out Saturday morning for the Capital.

We arrived at the capital and started down the street on the West side of the capital where all the metered parking spots were located. I passed a motorcycle DPS officer and he flipped around and blue lighted me. I pulled into an empty spot, rolled the window down, and placed my hands on the wheel with DL and CHL in hand. He approached drivers side window and asked for ID and insurance. I gave him DL, CHL, and proof of insurance. The officer asked if I was carrying and I stated yes sir IWB right hand side. He didn't seem to care and told me he pulled me over for the inspection sticker out of date.

The officer asked me if there was a reason I didn't have a current inspection sticker and I explained it was the wife's car and it was just an oversight on my part and I just failed to get it done. He then stated he would run my license and registration to make sure everything else was in order and would then give me a warning for the inspection sticker. :hurry:

He returned a few minutes later with the warning ticket which I signed. I asked him about the meters and were they enforced on the weekends and he said yes they were enforced. I asked him if there was any free parking and he informed me I could park in the state parking lot I had just passed as towing wasn't enforced on the weekend. I thanked him for the information and told him to have a great weekend. He was very professional and I fully expected to get a ticket for the inspection sticker. Overall a very positive encounter with DPS.

I can't say whether it was the "VETERAN" status on my DL, the CHL, or maybe a combination of the two that influenced the officer into just writing a warning ticket. Maybe it was my professional and respectful attitude toward the officer as well. Whatever the reason I appreciated his professional courtesy and will write a letter to DPS complimenting him on his professionalism.

On a side note I did tour the capital after the rally and entered using the CHL access line. Just a scan of my CHL and I was in and waiting for the wife and son to pass through the metal detector line.
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, an American Soldier doesn't have that problem". — President Ronald Reagan, 1985
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jmra
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#2

Post by jmra »

Good encounter. The way they should all go.
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texanjoker

Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#3

Post by texanjoker »

Sounds like a normal stop to me. They take place daily, but rarely make the news. It is also good to hear some positive DPS news in here. I did notice the presence at the capital yesterday. I didn't count, but there were a lot of troopers. One told me that was their normal staffing, but I've never seen that many. I counted 2 different sgt's. But you can't blame them when they know a large crowd is coming with the potential of anti's coming to cause problems. I know when I entered the capital itself, the trooper could barely read my ID to see that it said I was an LEO. Those with CHL's were getting buzzed in faster. I don't' carry mine, I guess next time I will to get in faster. I did notice they swipe those cards to see if they are valid. With a 5 year window between CHL renewals I wonder how many times they get a hit for a non valid CHL? I had to LOL when my 12 year old was made to go stand in the line to get searched and couldn't walk through with me. I mean in reality, if we were going to be criminals wouldn't I just carry the stuff inside? But hey, policy is policy. :patriot:

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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#4

Post by Bullwhip »

I didnt' know DPS had motorcycles. Is that a capital thing?
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#5

Post by gigag04 »

Bullwhip wrote:I didnt' know DPS had motorcycles. Is that a capital thing?
I THINK so.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#6

Post by Ericstac »

Why does your license say "veteran"?
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#7

Post by Vol Texan »

Ericstac wrote:Why does your license say "veteran"?
Quoted from the DPS website: DPS offers a VETERAN designation printed on the face of driver licenses for qualifying veterans. The designation is not available for ID cards at this time.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLice ... rvices.htm

I received mine in November. On the rare times that I do have to present it (e.g. to DHS at the airport), it sometimes does initiate a conversation about it.

:patriot:
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

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Post by Mel »

Vol Texan wrote:
Ericstac wrote:Why does your license say "veteran"?
Quoted from the DPS website: DPS offers a VETERAN designation printed on the face of driver licenses for qualifying veterans. The designation is not available for ID cards at this time.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLice ... rvices.htm

I received mine in November. On the rare times that I do have to present it (e.g. to DHS at the airport), it sometimes does initiate a conversation about it.

:patriot:
Yep! I just had to get my DL updated after eye surgery. Now shows "NO RESTRICTIONS" and "VETERAN".
Now I just need to get my FAA medical updated.
Mel
Airworthiness Inspector specializing in Experimental and Light-Sport Aircraft since the last Century.

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Right2Carry
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#9

Post by Right2Carry »

Bullwhip wrote:I didnt' know DPS had motorcycles. Is that a capital thing?
All I can tell you is that the DPS warning ticket I received was from a State Trooper on a Motorcycle. I also observed State Troopers patrolling on bicycles.
“Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, an American Soldier doesn't have that problem". — President Ronald Reagan, 1985
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#10

Post by PUCKER »

Wanted to throw in my experience with the DPS Troopers at the Capitol on that day as well (for the Guns Across America rally, of course). Went through the CHL line on my way in to the Capitol, it was easy/breezy, officer was very professional.

During the rally (and before) I kept my head on a swivel just to keep an eye on who was watching us and who might be there to stir up trouble. Our group (from DFW) was at the back, I was standing on the raised landscaping area so I had a pretty good view from the high ground, so-to-speak. I notice a good-sized DPS presence and they were all pretty relaxed and every now and then a trooper would walk across from one side to the other.

The engagements I saw:
-When we first got there someone affixed a flag to one of the structures near the landscaping (it was sort of a fence between two columns. A female trooper on a bicycle came by and said: "Do me a favor and take that down, no items are to be attached to the structure" (or something very similar to that affect) and then she rode off. The folks immediately took the flag down.
-Before the rally started a fruitloop rode by on his bicycle (he was wearing headphones too) and shouted "guns kill and people with guns kill" and such other nonsense. He was not really looking where he was going, I'm surprised he didn't crash. A trooper went and had a chat with him and the fruitloop went on his merry way. I did not hear the convo but it probably went something like this, at least that's how our group surmised it: "Listen son, this may not be the smartest place to practice your 1st Amendment rights, I'm not telling you not to, but I'm advising you that it might be a bad idea..."

There was an individual there with some kind of militia outfit (and a militia "badge" of some type...I still wonder if it was the CHL Badge that we all ridicule?) that had an AR on a sling, muzzle down. I did not witness a trooper chatting with him, but other folks mentioned that at least one trooper had a chat with him.

After the rally I stopped by and chatted with the trooper who engaged the fruitloop. He was very friendly and professional, we all shook his hand and thanked him for being there. :tiphat:

texanjoker

Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#11

Post by texanjoker »

PUCKER wrote:Wanted to throw in my experience with the DPS Troopers at the Capitol on that day as well (for the Guns Across America rally, of course). Went through the CHL line on my way in to the Capitol, it was easy/breezy, officer was very professional.

During the rally (and before) I kept my head on a swivel just to keep an eye on who was watching us and who might be there to stir up trouble. Our group (from DFW) was at the back, I was standing on the raised landscaping area so I had a pretty good view from the high ground, so-to-speak. I notice a good-sized DPS presence and they were all pretty relaxed and every now and then a trooper would walk across from one side to the other.

The engagements I saw:
-When we first got there someone affixed a flag to one of the structures near the landscaping (it was sort of a fence between two columns. A female trooper on a bicycle came by and said: "Do me a favor and take that down, no items are to be attached to the structure" (or something very similar to that affect) and then she rode off. The folks immediately took the flag down.
-Before the rally started a fruitloop rode by on his bicycle (he was wearing headphones too) and shouted "guns kill and people with guns kill" and such other nonsense. He was not really looking where he was going, I'm surprised he didn't crash. A trooper went and had a chat with him and the fruitloop went on his merry way. I did not hear the convo but it probably went something like this, at least that's how our group surmised it: "Listen son, this may not be the smartest place to practice your 1st Amendment rights, I'm not telling you not to, but I'm advising you that it might be a bad idea..."

There was an individual there with some kind of militia outfit (and a militia "badge" of some type...I still wonder if it was the CHL Badge that we all ridicule?) that had an AR on a sling, muzzle down. I did not witness a trooper chatting with him, but other folks mentioned that at least one trooper had a chat with him.

After the rally I stopped by and chatted with the trooper who engaged the fruitloop. He was very friendly and professional, we all shook his hand and thanked him for being there. :tiphat:
The guys badge said something about the TX militia or something similar.

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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#12

Post by talltex »

gigag04 wrote:
Bullwhip wrote:I didnt' know DPS had motorcycles. Is that a capital thing?
I THINK so.
Don't know if it's ONLY at the capital, but they definitely do have them there. They provided escort between Capital and Texas State Cemetary last year at a funeral I attended.
"I looked out under the sun and saw that the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong" Ecclesiastes 9:11

"The race may not always go to the swift or the battle to the strong, but that's the way the smart money bets" Damon Runyon

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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#13

Post by glbedd53 »

I'm not sure about that uniform but was he selling cookies?

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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#14

Post by GoTimeSurvival »

Vol Texan wrote:
Ericstac wrote:Why does your license say "veteran"?
Quoted from the DPS website: DPS offers a VETERAN designation printed on the face of driver licenses for qualifying veterans. The designation is not available for ID cards at this time.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLice ... rvices.htm

I received mine in November. On the rare times that I do have to present it (e.g. to DHS at the airport), it sometimes does initiate a conversation about it.

:patriot:

Thank you for that Vol - that is the coolist thing I've learned this year. Getting my license updated next week for sure!
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Re: DPS Encounter at the Capital on 1/19/2013

#15

Post by Mel »

GoTimeSurvival wrote:
Vol Texan wrote:
Ericstac wrote:Why does your license say "veteran"?
Quoted from the DPS website: DPS offers a VETERAN designation printed on the face of driver licenses for qualifying veterans. The designation is not available for ID cards at this time.

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLice ... rvices.htm

I received mine in November. On the rare times that I do have to present it (e.g. to DHS at the airport), it sometimes does initiate a conversation about it.

:patriot:

Thank you for that Vol - that is the coolist thing I've learned this year. Getting my license updated next week for sure!
You can also get "Veteran" license plates at no additional cost! I have them on both my Honda and my "Vette.
Mel
Airworthiness Inspector specializing in Experimental and Light-Sport Aircraft since the last Century.
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