Active military CHL reciprocity question

[VHGregg]

I'm an active duty military member that holds a Texas CHL, currently I reside in Florida after moving on military orders. My wife and I both received the Texas CHL (resident) while residing within the state, we have changed our address and recieved new cards (Texas CHL with FL address). Looking at the reciprocity map, FL accepts only "resident" Texas CHLs. We claim TX as our home residence (TX drivers license) and intend to return when we retire however we are not living there now. I assume because of the changed address we are now a non-resident and our license is no longer valid in our current state however I wanted to verify as I still consider myself a Texas resident and pay (or don't pay) Texas state taxes for the military. If anyone can confirm this, it would be appreciated. Thanks -

[Keith B]

Hmm, does your drivers license also show your Florida address or Texas? Your valid drivers license and your CHL address should match. Military can be funny, but I would say if you are declaring Texas residency, then you would still have a resident Texas CHL as long as it matches your Texas DL.

[nightmare]

It doesn't look like Florida has an exception for the military. If you're a resident of Florida, you need a Florida license to carry. http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/news/legislation.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you still have Texas DL with a valid Texas address, maybe you can change your CHL back to Texas and be kosher.

[JALLEN]

My guess is that "residence" for military purposes (Texas resident residing in another state on orders) which absolves you from registering your cars, getting a local state D/L, but not your wife, last time I looked, is different than for CHL purposes.

My son, a CA resident, is married to a Navy officer who is a resident of Iowa. She is in San Diego on orders. She has Iowa plates on her car(s) and an Iowa D/L, but he was there anyway, so still has CA licenses and plates. They pay CA income taxes only on his salary, hehehe.

I would get the FL resident permits. It is easy, and relatively cheap.

[airbornecpa]

The military term is "home of record" it is where they will send you back to upon ETS. In my mind your home of record is your residence for legal purposes. Generally drivers license are valid until until some time after ETS when you return to Texas.
Where are you registered to vote?

Maybe run this by a JAG lawyer

[docbrazos]

Your covered but as noted not your wife

Very important to be sure you stay a Texas resident if you plan on returning someday. Your Tax return needs to reflect your Texas Residency.........If wife works in a state with state income tax she will have to file as a non-resident employee. But your CHL with a FL address should be valid as it's resdent CHL! You should also maintain your Tx DL. My soon to be EX daughter-in-law maintained her home state ID all the time she lived out of her state with my soldier son but filed taxes as a Texan by act of congress.

[pancho]

But your CHL with a FL address should be valid as it's resdent CHL!

Where does it say that in the Florida law? The part I read looked like it said the opposite.

[ldj1002]

OK, some states have a non-resident license. Does TX have a non-resident license? If not then logic would tell me you are OK in FL because "FL accepts only "resident" Texas CHLs" and that is what you have.
This leads to another question. When you move to another state and need a drivers license for that state, as far as I know, all you have to do is go and pay the fees. No test required. I know TX does that. IF a CHL holder from another stat move to TX, can he just go pay the fees and get a license, especially if a reciprocal state? If not, why? I know some will say he needs to know the laws. OK, he needs to know the laws pertaining to driving. About knowing TX CHL laws, if you read this forum you will see there are many parts of the law that no one knows.

[srothstein]

Just for technical accuracy when making that comparison, ldj1002, if you are transferring your DL to Texas, there is a test you have to take. It is the written test on Texas laws. You are exempted from the driving skills test (road test) but you do take the written.

So, a person coming into Texas with a CHL from another state should have to pay the fees and take a Texas laws test. I could support that.

Just to further that comparison, when you come in with a professional license from another state, some cases allow a straight transfer while some require a test of some sort. A police license requires a 120 class and then a full licensing exam.