Concealed Carry at TxDOT Offices

[Needhelp]

I recently received my TX CHL and commonly do business at TxDOT offices.

Do any of the laws regarding gov't restriction or any other items disallow carrying at TxDOT offices?

[tacticool]

TX DOT offices are not on the list of prohibited places.

I'm not going to say it's legal because somebody would ask, "What if it's used as a polling place during elections."

[RPB]

TX DOT offices are not on the list of prohibited places.

I'm not going to say it's legal because somebody would ask, "What if it's used as a polling place during elections."

or ...
what if if it's located in the courthouse annex building


Needhelp
GENERALLY, you can carry in State Government offices, unless they are prohibited by some certain condition, like if are on "the list" or if they are located on Federal Property or if they post a 30.06 sign WHILE a governmental meeting is occurring, like some city Councils do, etc

[Vol Texan]

I recently went to the local drivers' license office here in Houston (sure, it may not be a DOT office, but I believe it's close enough to be on-topic, and I'd like some feedback on it) to apply for my veteran's designation on my drivers' license (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/driverlicense/VetServices.htm), and I ALMOST carried inside - because I believed it to be legal after having researched it here.

However, I had a change of heart, and here's why: If I get in there, and there happens to be a trooper working behind the desk (instead of a civilian employee), he would naturally ask me for my old DL in order to get my info. In that situation, I'm required to show him both licenses, and I didn't want to invite the inquiry of 'are you armed now?' in the crowded building if that were to happen.

It's over now, and it was a civilian behind the counter after all. She was more interested in my DD-214 than anything else, and I guess I could have carried all along.

I welcome any feedback - would you have handled it differently?

[longtooth]

I carry. Took my motor cycle test too & a DPS officer. Never a ? or comment.

I do live in Angelina County. Not Harris or Travis.
Oh yea or Montgomery either.

[RPB]

I recently went to the local drivers' license office here in Houston (sure, it may not be a DOT office, but I believe it's close enough to be on-topic, and I'd like some feedback on it) to apply for my veteran's designation on my drivers' license (http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/driverlicense/VetServices.htm), and I ALMOST carried inside - because I believed it to be legal after having researched it here.

However, I had a change of heart, and here's why: If I get in there, and there happens to be a trooper working behind the desk (instead of a civilian employee), he would naturally ask me for my old DL in order to get my info. In that situation, I'm required to show him both licenses, and I didn't want to invite the inquiry of 'are you armed now?' in the crowded building if that were to happen.

It's over now, and it was a civilian behind the counter after all. She was more interested in my DD-214 than anything else, and I guess I could have carried all along.

I welcome any feedback - would you have handled it differently?

In my city, the DPS is located in the Courthouse annex, if it wasn't, I'd carry there. I think you'd be treated by the DPS officer the same as by the DPS officer when you go through the CHL line at the State Capitol ... he might ask what you carry, so he'll know what to buy and carry off duty, or how you like what you carry so he'll know to tell his son to get one or not ... I wouldn't worry. When you show a driver's license (which they also issue) there ... do they ask "do you own a car right now?"

[mescobar_rpls]

Just so we are all on the same page, TxDOT and DPS are two completely different offices. TxDOT builds and maintains Texas highways. DPS is a law enforcement agency.

MEscobar_RPLS

[RPB]

Just so we are all on the same page, TxDOT and DPS are two completely different offices. TxDOT builds and maintains Texas highways. DPS is a law enforcement agency.

MEscobar_RPLS

True, The TxDot office is across from my church in their own building I'd carry there if I ever needed to go there. The County Tax guy who issues TX DMV license plates and handicapped stuff, and the DPS and everyone else is in the County Courthouse, so it's not an option currently in my city, I was just pointing out that some places, though OK to carry generally might not be if located in a not-ok place.. Should be no problem carrying at a TxDot office unless it's in an otherwise prohibited place. (Like if it's a voting location on votin' day, etc)

[JP171]

Just so we are all on the same page, TxDOT and DPS are two completely different offices. TxDOT builds and maintains Texas highways. DPS is a law enforcement agency.

MEscobar_RPLS

the quote above means what exactly?? you are free to carry into any law enforcement agency in the state of texas, but not into the secure area of that facility meaning the area not normally accessable to the public. so no carrying into the cell blocks in the building. and there are no DL offices that have a holding cell, not counting the ones in court houses

[fratermus]

Sidenote: TxDOT disallows employees from carrying (specified in the HR manual):

Code: Select all

Employees will not carry or keep firearms or any other weapons on department property, other than parking areas as described below, while on duty or while representing the department.

It is not a violation for employees who lawfully possess firearms to transport and store firearms in a locked, privately owned motor vehicle while parked in a parking lot, garage, or other employee parking area provided by the department.

{HR Manual version November 2012, short excerpt here as fair use:  commentary/criticism}


IIRC it used to also disallow weapons in parking lots until someone used an anonymous remailer to suggest that section needed revision (with germane links).

[mescobar_rpls]

Just so we are all on the same page, TxDOT and DPS are two completely different offices. TxDOT builds and maintains Texas highways. DPS is a law enforcement agency.

MEscobar_RPLS

the quote above means what exactly?? you are free to carry into any law enforcement agency in the state of texas, but not into the secure area of that facility meaning the area not normally accessable to the public. so no carrying into the cell blocks in the building. and there are no DL offices that have a holding cell, not counting the ones in court houses

I guess I should have used the word 'agency' instead of 'office'. I was trying to suggest that being able to carry in one place does not mean you can or cannot carry in the other. It seemed to me that the other esteemed posters were confusing the two agencies.

Respectfully submitted,
MEscobar_RPLS

[Scott Farkus]

Sidenote: TxDOT disallows employees from carrying (specified in the HR manual):

Code: Select all

Employees will not carry or keep firearms or any other weapons on department property, other than parking areas as described below, while on duty or while representing the department.

It is not a violation for employees who lawfully possess firearms to transport and store firearms in a locked, privately owned motor vehicle while parked in a parking lot, garage, or other employee parking area provided by the department.

{HR Manual version November 2012, short excerpt here as fair use:  commentary/criticism}


IIRC it used to also disallow weapons in parking lots until someone used an anonymous remailer to suggest that section needed revision (with germane links).

Yep. I used to work there and it was maddening that they would do this. Before the parking lot bill passed, they did indeed forbid you from keeping your firearm in your vehicle, also.

If this won't be addressed legislatively, Perry needs to issue an executive order prohibiting state agencies under his control from doing this. The public can't be barred from carrying on state property (outside the statutory exceptions), why should it be any different for state employees?

[srothstein]

you are free to carry into any law enforcement agency in the state of texas, but not into the secure area of that facility meaning the area not normally accessable to the public. so no carrying into the cell blocks in the building. and there are no DL offices that have a holding cell, not counting the ones in court houses

Just a technical note that the law does not mention anything about cell blocks. It just says the secure area not open to the public. The law enforcement agency gets to say what is secure and what is public. For example, in most DPS offices, the public is not allowed in the offices behind the counter or the storerooms. In some of these, you need to go through a separate doorway to enter these areas, so they are secure and non-public.

In San Antonio, when you entered the main station, you used to be able to go about 30 feet to a counter or to one side of it tot he records office. To go beyond that area you needed to be signed in and escorted. The whole building was non-public and secure. I don't know about their new headquarters but I would bet it is the same.

Both of these cases would meet the law if they have the proper signs and lockers. There is no holding cell in either. We need to be very careful of how we read the law and interpret it.

[JP171]

ok Steve I did say area not normally accessable to the public, sheesh nitpick why don't ya LOL. yea I understand what your saying and some may need alot of clarification. I just used cell block as an example, but really some departments would like to make the whole building a "secure" area and maybe some do, the mentality of us vs. them is there and carried to extremes.