Border check station

[tboesche]

On Saturday morning, the wife and I will be leaving El Paso driving back to Fort Worth Via I10 & I20. About 70 miles from El Paso is a border patrol check station on teh East bound side of I10. I am carrying my 1911 IWB and also have a cased AR-15 in the back seat.(SUV-No trunk). Looking for advice. Wen I stop at the BPCS, do they ask for ID? If so, Should I show both my DL and my CHL. Since the BP is federal and not State, Do I have to provide the CHL if asked for ID. My inclination is to show both.

Looking for advice from some of our LEO's on the board, Srothstein, gigag04 any others

[CC Italian]

I have gone through several of these stations in west Texas in the last 5 years and I have never been asked for my ID. They only asked where I was going and how my day was going. Real friendly! Once they did have a German Shepard walk around my truck and smell the bed. No big deal! If they ask for ID I would just present my drivers license and CHl and tell them where the guns are in the car. Again, no big deal at all. I know people say you don't have to show them your CHL but I have no problem showing mine to a federal agency. I think its better up front to tell them about it if you are asked for ID but some might not agree. Remember you are still in Texas, no laws change just because the LEO is federal. It’s really no big deal. They are more worried about the illegal trafficking of drugs, people and above all lately firearms.

This is Texas so carry your 1911 and AR-15 all you want. The only thing I could see them giving you any slack about is if the AR-15 has one in the chamber. This is not illegal but many state and federal agencies frown upon it. Like I said though, it is not illegal and carry the AR locked and loaded if you please. Probably 3/4 of the people on the road in west Texas have guns in their car. Miles of nothing and being so close to the border I would have it no other way!

[couzin]

They typically don't stop you. If you have back seat passengers you might get pulled. If they do stop you they will ask where you have been (across the border or not), any fruits, vegetables or other produce/meats, and some questions just to test you - might pop the trunk. If you don't appear hinky and answer questions accordingly you will move on. If you get pulled for a secondary inspection, then you need to note your concealed license, volunteer your weapon, and its location. Then the dogs come out and the air chisels get to work taking your vehicle apart...

[Terlingueno]

I drive thought USBP check stations multiple times a week. I am always carrying. Sometimes my loaded AR carbine is on the seat of the truck too. They never ask for ID, just the "are you a US citizen?" and sometimes "where are you headed, have you been in Big Bend NP?"

[bilgerat57]

Never had a problem with BP. I would treat it like a traffic stop. If they ask for ID, show them both DL and CHL. No LEO likes surprises.......

[speedsix]

Never had a problem with BP. I would treat it like a traffic stop. If they ask for ID, show them both DL and CHL. No LEO likes surprises.......

...law does say "magistrate or peace officer"...but the courtesy of informing them willingly does take the pressure off quickly...most LEOS feel we're on their side...

[sookandy]

I went through a couple of times after hunting near Del Rio. Coming back through I had gun cases piled up on the back seat of the truck. They had the dogs there and all they asked if I was a US citizen. Didn't ask for anything ID wise. Most guns are going the opposite direction nowadays. Oh ya that's cause we paid for them to let them go...but I digress.

[Reloader]

Years ago, (1996), the check station in Hebbronville, asked if I HAD weapons; they said If not go by way of Laredo. I told them what I had, and they said Good, at least I could still defend my self on TX hwy 16 until they got their. If I had trouble to fire three shots and someone would investigate trouble quickly, since the Helo was over 16 watching for trouble. It made me feel better.

[hirundo82]

Remember you are still in Texas, no laws change just because the LEO is federal. It’s really no big deal.

Actually, it does change if they are federal. We are required to display our CHL if asked for ID by a peace officer (or magistrate), but CBP/Border Patrol, as well as other federal LEOs, are explicitly not peace officers under Texas law:

CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 2. GENERAL DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Art. 2.122. SPECIAL INVESTIGATORS.
(c) A Customs and Border Protection Officer of the United States Customs and Border Protection or a Border Patrol agent, immigration enforcement agent, or deportation officer of the Department of Homeland Security is not a peace officer under the laws of this state[...]

[CEOofEVIL]

Being a resident of El Paso, I've been through the CBP checkpoints countless times. Generally, its not a big deal at all. They really just scope you out, and say something to the effect of "Good afternoon, US Citizens?" and that is that. It does heavily depend on your situation though - if its my wife and I they usually ask the aforementioned question and then send us on our way with a courteous "Have a good day".

The times I've been through with any male buddies of mine though, and the questions get more in depth and different. Last time I went through the CP you are describing I was with two friends on a camping trip to the guadalupes. We were pulling a pop up tent and the truck was filled with camping gear. They basically wanted to know where we were going and how we knew each other and for how long.

Nothing really "bad" about that (perhaps a bit intrusive and creepy) but its interesting to see how they change their tactics based on the folks in the vehicle. At any rate we all have our CHL's and were carrying and it was a non issue. As mentioned, its probably a good idea to let them know you are armed if they pull you over to secondary for a indepth Inspection or questioning and you can tell it looks like it'd be time for them to be notified (IE a search of your vehicle, etc). Just like all other LEO types they sure can get jumpy, and I'm all for keeping them as calm as I can.

Bottomline, enjoy the drive and don't worry about it too much! And wave/smile to the array of cameras you have to pass by on the way past the station,

[paulhailes]

I have been on a number of climbing trips to Hueco Tanks, right outside of El Paso. I love going through the Border Patrol check cause they see a truck drive up with 4 people in it all of whom haven't had a shower in 3 days, and then the back is packed with crash pads which are big rectangular pads you fall on when climbing without a rope (never said it was smart), anyways the crash pads are covered in white climbing chalk... Its always a fun encounter, they kinda look at the pads like they have no clue what they are and why they would have powdered chalk on them, they brought the dogs out a couple of times the rest they were just confused.

[The Annoyed Man]

I can't speak for the ones in Texas, but I recently had to drive through one going into California. All they wanted to know was if I had any fruit in the car. Didn't ask to see my ID, and didn't ask if Texas plates meant I had guns in the car (I did).

[Jumping Frog]

if its my wife and I they usually ask the aforementioned question and then send us on our way with a courteous "Have a good day".

The times I've been through with any male buddies of mine though, and the questions get more in depth and different.

I think my answer to them would be, "last I checked this was still America, I am a citizen, and I don't have to talk with you."

Questions like, "where have you been, where are you going, how do you know this person, etc." bug the heck out of me.

[b322da]

if its my wife and I they usually ask the aforementioned question and then send us on our way with a courteous "Have a good day".

The times I've been through with any male buddies of mine though, and the questions get more in depth and different.

I think my answer to them would be, "last I checked this was still America, I am a citizen, and I don't have to talk with you."

I feel obligated to step into this. If we have readers out there who might be tempted to follow this advice at a border check station, the context here, they should do it if they want to have an unpleasant experience. If our adviser here just wants us to know how tough he is, he can just tell us. We'll believe it. Right?

I would be more apt to follow such advice if our adviser had told us what his answer "was," rather than "what he thinks it would be."

Elmo

[speedsix]

Remember you are still in Texas, no laws change just because the LEO is federal. It’s really no big deal.

Actually, it does change if they are federal. We are required to display our CHL if asked for ID by a peace officer (or magistrate), but CBP/Border Patrol, as well as other federal LEOs, are explicitly not peace officers under Texas law:

CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CHAPTER 2. GENERAL DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Art. 2.122. SPECIAL INVESTIGATORS.
(c) A Customs and Border Protection Officer of the United States Customs and Border Protection or a Border Patrol agent, immigration enforcement agent, or deportation officer of the Department of Homeland Security is not a peace officer under the laws of this state[...]

...what a surprise!!! how'd you come across this little snippet???? looks like ICE is covered...is ICE under Homeland Security? this doesn't seem to cover any other types like ATF, FBI, ETC...nice to know...