Will copies work in a pinch???

[cstierhoff]

Hey All,
I'm still waiting for my PIN. While pacing in the "Wwaiting Room" I slipped over to "Never Again" and read this-

I had go leave home before dawn today to drive someone to Hobby airport, 40-some miles away. The drive was smooth and I saw my guest off.

Then I stopped to get a coffee refill for the drive home. Oops. No wallet.

Fortunately I had made copies of my credentials and stashed them in my car. I retrieved them and drove home verrrry carefully. My lifetime record of never being stopped by Texas police remains intact. Thank you, Lord.

The night before, I had broken one of my own rules and left my wallet in my jacket. This morning I took a different jacket.

- Jim

My question is: Will a LEO accept copies of my DL and my CHL?

This was never discussed during my CHL course. Just wondering.
CS

[seamusTX]

The police officer can use the information on the copy to verify that you have a driver license and CHL through the DPS computer system. What he does then is up to him. People who forget their wallets are often issued a citation which is dismissed when the driver shows up in court with the proper documents.

I figure it's better than nothing.

The situation with a forgotten CHL has been made immensely better by the 2007 car-carry law. Before that, I would definitely have been carrying illegally.

- Jim

[Dan20703]

I keep a color copy of both DL and CHL in each of my vehicles for just such a case. Like seamusTX said, it will be up to the LEO on what happens from that point. At least you will have something for him.

IMHO, it can only help.

[numist]

I keep a color copy of both DL and CHL in each of my vehicles for just such a case. Like seamusTX said, it will be up to the LEO on what happens from that point. At least you will have something for him.

IMHO, it can only help.

Although this sound like a good idea you might actually be setting yourself up for identity theft if your vehicle ever gets broken into or stolen. I don't leave anything with any of my personal information in my vehicles. Even my auto insurance card lives in my wallet instead of the car pocket.

[Emmett]

Just a couple things to think about. If you do get pulled over by a LEO and you don’t have your wallet with licenses, the Officer can always verify your licenses through your name and date of berth. Where as if you make copies of these documents and leave them in the vehicle and the vehicle gets stolen, you have given the thieves access to some very valuable information that could very easily lead to Identification theft. Then you could loose everything.
Just my .02, and something to think about.
Emmett

[Emmett]

I guess we posted the same thoghts at the same time.

[numist]

I guess we posted the same thoghts at the same time.

Great minds and all...

[seamusTX]

JWhere as if you make copies of these documents and leave them in the vehicle and the vehicle gets stolen, you have given the thieves access to some very valuable information that could very easily lead to Identification theft.

This is a possibility. I have the copy hidden pretty well, IMHO (I ain't sayin' where).

- Jim

[txinvestigator]

People give fake names and DOBs to cops all of the time. They memorize the name and DOB of another person with a DL.

Not being in possession of your CHL when carrying is an arrestable offence. The law does not require you HAVE one, it requires you possess it.

Texas Penal Code
§ 46.02. Unlawful Carrying Weapons.

(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
(1) on the person's own premises or premises under the person's control; or
(2) inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's control.



§ 46.15. Nonapplicability.

b) Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who:
(5) is carrying a concealed handgun and a valid license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code , to carry a concealed handgun of the same category as the handgun the person is carrying;

Regarding ID theft; anyone can simply run your license plate thru publicly available databases and have all of your info. I would not worry the least about carrying copies of my DL and CHL in my vehicle.

[propellerhead]

Although this sound like a good idea you might actually be setting yourself up for identity theft if your vehicle ever gets broken into or stolen. I don't leave anything with any of my personal information in my vehicles. Even my auto insurance card lives in my wallet instead of the car pocket.

Yup. I don't leave anything in my car that will let a casual criminal find my house. Even my remote garage door opener is out of plain view.

[shootthesheet]

If I ever forget my license I will unload and stash my weapon and ammo in separate locations out of reach. Like was posted, if a person has a CHL and are carrying they must have that CHL on them. I will not rely on a LEO to give me a break. I do not believe the "car carry" law helps CHL holders at all as the law is written requiring the CHL be in possession of that CHL. I wouldn't suggest relying on a LEO to protect CHL for you just because you have a copy. Just go straight home and get the license and carry legally. Anything else is a gamble. That is my opinion.

[txinvestigator]

If I ever forget my license I will unload and stash my weapon and ammo in separate locations out of reach. Like was posted, if a person has a CHL and are carrying they must have that CHL on them. I will not rely on a LEO to give me a break. I do not believe the "car carry" law helps CHL holders at all as the law is written requiring the CHL be in possession of that CHL. I wouldn't suggest relying on a LEO to protect CHL for you just because you have a copy. Just go straight home and get the license and carry legally. Anything else is a gamble. That is my opinion.

I will say that being in your car would be one time now when failing to have your CHL would not be a problem as far as UCW.

A person carrying in the car is not carrying under 46.15(b)(5). Carry in the car is not illegal nor does it require a CHL.

However, the Government Code DOES make it a suspendable offense to carry your handgun and fail to display your CHL and ID to a Peace Office or Magistrate who demands that you ID yourself; regardless, of under what authority you are carrying.

I agree that I certainly would not risk arrest for this seemingly confusing set of laws. ;)

[gregthehand]

Kind of a funny story dealing with this. One of the guys I went to the police academy pulled over a guy one night. The guy said he didn't have his actual license and insurance but he had made copies of them (he had not forgotten them he just didn't like carrying them ). Anyhow he had something like 10 copies of these and told my buddy just to use that, which he did. However he also wrote the guy for not carrying his actual license. When he went back and told the guy what he was writin him for the guy blew up! He said that he had produced a license and therefore was not due a ticket. My buddy explained to him that if he would like he can accept the copy as a license but since the guy had 10 of them he was going to have to write him 9 tickets for having a duplicate license (that couldn't be fixed), or he could write one ticket for not having his license (which could be fixed if the guy went to the cities office and showed it to the clerk). The guy begrudingly signed and went on about his business! I always wondered if he was dumb enough to just pay for both tickets!