Ok I work at the port. I have not entered a secured area "beyond the TWIC turnstalls" after Jan 1, 2016 so I do not know if they have the signs posted. No letter has been forwarded to us by our Union Hall from the port notifying us of any changes to port rules as of today Jan 19, 2016.tiger1279 wrote:Here is a statement from the Port Police web site:
Under the provisions in our Facility Security Plans, which go into effect on January 1, 2016, neither concealed nor open carry of firearms is permitted in Port of Houston Authority facilities, including buildings, docks and other secured or restricted areas. If you have any questions concerning these provisions, please contact Chief Mark Smith at 713-670-3646.
I have a co-worker who was stopped driving a vehicle a few years ago (I do not remember the exact date but I do know there was no signage at this time or notification of any intent to ban weapons from the port) to the lower level of the City Docks which is a TWIC area (parking is on the upper level). He was randomly selected for a screening which is a search of the vehicle. Doors open, hood open, and glovebox/console open. Most of the time I just do doors and hood they never do anything but peek in my truck cause it looks like I live there with all the clothes I carry for different weather conditions. Ok so, they actually open his console and they find his pistol. They freak out, Port Police is called and the Coast Guard shows up. They remove the gun, empty all the bullets, and take possession of the gun. The ask him why he has the gun and ask for his CHL license. He goes along with the program and the Coast Guard officer escorts him off the port by following him to the exit gate. Returns his gun and unofficially says there is no rule saying you can not have it, we would rather you not bring it in. Now this is after he had previously asked a Port Police Officer about having said gun in his truck and they advised not to keep it where it would be visible during an inspection, just keep it in your console or glovebox. To add the lower level inspection can be more detailed which is why they opened his console, at the entry gates it is usually a passive inspection of the interior focusing more on underneath the vehicle along with what is visible at a glance of the interior.
In regards to the Port of Houston statement. They only stated Buildings, docks, and secure/restricted areas.
* At the City Docks this would be the Port Authority Building on the upper level and everything else would be beyond the TWIC accessible areas. The upper level where you enter the port does not require a TWIC just an ID (drivers license, passport). All parking areas are on the upper level unless you have access to park on the dock which is authorized by the companies and by list only to the Port of Houston.
* At Bayport, Barbours Cut this would include the Port Authority buildings and marine buildings by the dock.
* Any private terminals would be any area accessed beyond the TWIC entry area. Woodhouse, Industrial Terminal, J Port, Texas Terminal, etc.
This would mean CHL holders or even stretching it using the Castle Doctrine, you would be legal to have the weapon in your vehicle and lock it up while parked in the employee parking areas. They could possibly get you if you are wearing concealed and exit your vehicle during the random screening since you removed it from your vehicle. This is my interpretation of this statement based on CHL laws regarding employers banning employees from keeping their weapon locked in the vehicle while parked in a company parking area. There was a link in a post above that explained this exact scenario from Gov Abbot who was the AG at the time.
Not sure how the Port would act against someone if your designated area to park is inside the TWIC area because under state law you are allowed to have it in your vehicle locked and secured while parking. The Port Authority is a state run entity so they should not be able to circumvent State Law.
I am not a lawyer and this is my interpretation of the laws.