Fort Bend County Precinct 4

[Vol Texan]

So I took a different way home from work today, and I made it a slow leisurely drive, stopping to look for, photograph, and post 30.06 and 30.07 signs along the way (to the Texas3006.com website).

I came across an interesting posting on the way. The Fort Bend County Precinct 4 building at 12919 Dairy Ashford Rd, in Sugar Land has a sign on the front door in English and in Spanish that says, "Texas Penal Code 4603/.035 prohibit firearms and illegal weapons on this premises, regardless of license."

According to the big sign on the street, this building houses Commissioner James Patterson, Constable Trever J Nehls, and Justice of the Peace Justin M. Joyce. Is there any way whatsoever that this sign is legal and enforceable?

[eyet]

That sounds like the same sign they put on the Fort Bend County Libraries. I'm very disappointed with a couple of commissioners who I thought were more honorable than that.

The law on illegal postings needs to have personal penalties for the individuals who decide to post them.

[joe817]

omg! I just looked at P.C. 46.03, P.C. 46.035 and my eyes got blurry trying to decipher what the statutes said. It seems to me the County Commissioners & the Constables are putting up a smoke screen to confuse people into doing nothing. IMO, a complaint to the Texas AG is justified.

[OldAg]

(I am not a lawyer) However, my understanding is that the sign could be legal. It depends on the arrangement for the JP's office. In our county annex building, the commissioner is in one office and the Justice of the Peace is in a separate office. The commissioner's office cannot be (and is not) posted; but, the JP's office can be posted with a 46.03 sign (that is his courtroom and supporting staff).

Places weapons prohibited is covered in penal code 46.03. Subsection on courts: (a)(3) "on the premises of any government court or offices utilized by the court".

So if they are all in one office, it appears they can legally post.

Charles could probably give a definitive answer.

[AJSully421]

Here is the answer: If when you walk in the door, there are only court offices and court rooms, and every room is necessary to conduct the business of the court, then the whole building can be posted. If there is a county tax office, appraisal district, vehicle registration... anything else that is not a court, school, race track... they can not post the whole building. There are several examples in the AG's handling of these signs that show that.

A constable's office, being that he serves warrants and subpoenas, etc. could be construed as a "court office". However, a county commissioner's office would not be eligible.

So... what else is in that building? I would file, worst case the AG looks into it and finds that they are in compliance. All it will cost you is the price of a certified letter.