TexasCHLforum.com

I have a friend who has been thinking about getting his CHL for years, but hasn't. His reasons are very "Big Brother" like. He is convinced that he will be on some type of government watch list, and that he will be hastled by the police. He thinks that if an officer is behind him, and decides to run his plates, that he'll show up as having a CHL and be more likely to be pulled over. I've expained to him that I've had mine almost 2 years, and have been pulled over twice. Once, I was speeding, and once my inspection sticker was out. So they were valid reasons to pull me over, being hastled never even crossed my mind. Both times, I presented my CHL with my drivers license and told them I was carrying. Neither one gave any response that they knew ahead of time that I had a CHL. And after I presented it to them, neither one really showed a response that they were concerned by it. So I have no reason personally to believe CHLers would be needlessly hastled. I tried to explain this to "Bob", but he's still convinced that he would be hastled.

I have a few questions. Usually, I'd ask my brother if it comes up when he runs a plate, but he's on midnights right now and sleeping. Maybe you other LEO's can help. So number one: Does it come up when you run a license plate? I assume not because wouldn't that just be who the vehicle is registered to? And number two: Does it come up when you run your driver's license or do you have to specifically request a CHL check? And number three: Should I just not encourage someone who seems to be paranoid that the cops are out to get him to get a CHL?

I've been out of Police work awhile now but running a license plate through our DMV should only show the registered owner's name and address and no other info unless it is a stolen vehicle or plate. A personal check by an officer, NCIC & TCIC will show a CHL on it.

DPS only lists the CHL on your Driver License record. It is not in TCIC/NCIC, and an officer will only find it if he runs a DL, what we called a 10-27.

A department CAN program their computer system to run a DL with every warrant check, and good dispatchers will always cross refererence the different databases when time allows.

Your friend needs a new tin foil hat.

TXI, that's all about what I figured, and yes, he may need a new hat!

I believe Skip is correct that the plate doesn't, but the DL does.

I vote for number three on your list through. If the person already has a paranoia about being harassed by the government or little black helicopters watching him, then I question the paranoia he might have while carrying a weapon. Would he be of the right mindset to use it only when really necessary?

EDIT: TXI confirmed both things!

I might add that the Supreme Court has ruled that having pro-RKBA stickers like an NRA sticker is not probable cause for a search, and the same would apply to knowing you have a CHL (since having a handgun would not be a crime).

The police are much more interested in stopping pretty women in sports cars.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:I
The police are much more interested in stopping pretty women in sports cars.

- Jim

Jim, the car mattered not!

Tactical_Texan_CHL wrote: TXI, that's all about what I figured, and yes, he may need a new hat!

Who says I'm not a nice guy? For your friend; http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

Thanks for clearing that up tx.

txinvestigator wrote:

Tactical_Texan_CHL wrote: TXI, that's all about what I figured, and yes, he may need a new hat!

Who says I'm not a nice guy? For your friend; http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

Bah...why get that pre-hacked TFH

Get the Opensource and impenetrable TFH

http://tinfoilhat.shmoo.com/

Whoah..you can even get a faraday canopy for your bed...so you can sleep better at night
http://www.lessemf.com/personal.html

Tactical_Texan_CHL wrote: I tried to explain this to "Bob", but he's still convinced that he would be hastled.

You will never convince him. Whenever he sees a contrail up in the sky, he thinks they are conducting surveillence on him.

I've been stopped a few times since moving to TX and getting my CHL in 2001. In every case, the stop was legitimate as I was violating one or more traffic laws. In every case, the cop was courteous and professional. Most of the time, they cut me a break. Back last Nov. I was stopped for speeding and it turned out that my insurance card was 2 days out of date. (I had forgotten to put the new card in my glove compartment package.) Result - a warning.

I have never been hassled by any TX LEO for any reason.

FWIW, I have several NRA stickers on my truck. That never seems to bother them either.

Not that it matters, but there are a couple of pretty young ladies working at the Austin DPS office where I handed in my renewal in person last April. They were friendly, helpful, and cheerful.

txinvestigator wrote:DPS only lists the CHL on your Driver License record. It is not in TCIC/NCIC, and an officer will only find it if he runs a DL, what we called a 10-27.

A department CAN program their computer system to run a DL with every warrant check, and good dispatchers will always cross refererence the different databases when time allows.

Your friend needs a new tin foil hat.

Omnix (Legacy's replacement) allows running of CHL's thru different states as a separate check in and of itself.
But, to answer the original question the 28's (license plates) only return registration information on the vehicle.

Thanks all. I also got an answer from my LEO brother. Like you guys, he said when he runs plates, he just gets the registered owner. He usually doesn't run the registered owner, because he doens't know if that's who's really driving. When he runs the DL, he get's the CHL info. He even said he usually cuts them loose if they have a CHL unless it's a good amount over the speed limit, or other serious violation. He figures if they passed the background check, there's a very low probablility they're doing anything other than speeding or minor traffic violation and he doesn't want to spend any more time when he could be doing something more productive. He said only one time has he decided to search the vehicle of a CHL holder, and that's because they didn't show him their card when he first walked up. When he ran the DL and noticed they had a CHL, he asked if he was carrying and forgot to tell him. He told my bro he was carrying and hadn't disclosed it when he first approached the vehicle. He ended up having marijuana in his vehicle. I guess it's just proof that some dumb people can still manage to get their CHL.