Alcohol offenses and eligibility.

[Thejester269]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum, and I'm hoping to get some answers to a question I have. I am looking to obtain a Texas CHL but I have had alcohol related offenses as recently as June 18th 2012. In the last 10 years (most of which I spent as a single guy in the oil field) I have racked up probably 5 Public Intoxication charges and one DWI. When I received the DWI I stopped drinking altogether. An awakening you might call it. I call it being scared witless and having to face the consequences of my actions. Anyway, I am a legal and registered owner of handguns and wish to carry. I have read that with more than one charge related to alcohol in the 10 years before your application is grounds for dismissal. Is there a way around this? I'm a responsible married father now, and hoping my drinking days doesn't put me in a category with felons... Any advise?

[GlassG19]

Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum, and I'm hoping to get some answers to a question I have. I am looking to obtain a Texas CHL but I have had alcohol related offenses as recently as June 18th 2012. In the last 10 years (most of which I spent as a single guy in the oil field) I have racked up probably 5 Public Intoxication charges and one DWI. When I received the DWI I stopped drinking altogether. An awakening you might call it. I call it being scared witless and having to face the consequences of my actions. Anyway, I am a legal and registered owner of handguns and wish to carry. I have read that with more than one charge related to alcohol in the 10 years before your application is grounds for dismissal. Is there a way around this? I'm a responsible married father now, and hoping my drinking days doesn't put me in a category with felons... Any advise?

Congrats on your being Alcohol free now. Fortunately for myself I can't answer or have any tips to help. There are several other posts in other similar subjects for this question that you may have not seen here with really good information on it,,,just an observation.

[thenick_ttu]

I can't speak to the legal, technically correct answer. My situation was similar to yours. I applied for my CHL in 2011-ish. I had 3 minor in possession offenses and 1 DUI. My last offense was in roughly 2005 so a larger gap in time than you. I submitted the application, disclosed all of my offenses and was granted my CHL. Hopefully you get the same result as I.

[gdanaher]

IANAL.
Go to the DPS page and download Publication 16 that covers all the relevant rules related to LTC/CHL. You will find your answer there, but if I recall correctly, multiple convictions establishes a pattern of behavior and that is a problem. I believe it takes 5 years past adjudication of a DWI, but it might be longer for what you have. Read the info in the book.

[WildBill]

Welcome to the forum Thejester269.

Here is a quote from the Texas DPS website concerning eligibility with a DWI conviction.
If your DWI conviction is from 2012 it would appear that you will need to wait until 2017.

DWI is classified as at least a Class B misdemeanor, and you are ineligible for a license for five years after a conviction for a Class A or Class B misdemeanor.
For the purpose of determining eligibility, a conviction includes those that were dismissed after you completed probation or deferred adjudication.

[Thejester269]

Thank you all so much for the replies. I did read the requirements listed, was hoping for a way around it, like some sort of appeal or court papers to file or something. Thanks again for the replies.