TexasCHLforum.com

So the Univ of Houston has a Hilton Hotel that describes itself as being on the university's campus. I did not find a 30-06 notice. Hotels are treated as a residence in terms of possessing a handgun if not posted (I seem to recall), but I'm assuming that the "on campus" designation trumps, making it illegal to carry into the hotel building, requiring me to leave in my car in the parking garage.

Thoughts?

Do not leave that weapon in your car anywhere near UofH! Just put it in your bag if you have a question about it. I know that is probably not the legal answer you were looking for but I am just giving you a common sense answer. UofH is in the smash and grab capitol of the Houston area! Seriously do not leave that in your car.

RiverCity.45 wrote:So the Univ of Houston has a Hilton Hotel that describes itself as being on the university's campus. I did not find a 30-06 notice. Hotels are treated as a residence in terms of possessing a handgun if not posted (I seem to recall), but I'm assuming that the "on campus" designation trumps, making it illegal to carry into the hotel building, requiring me to leave in my car in the parking garage.

Thoughts?

Wow, that's a tough one. It comes down to whether the hotel is considered the "premises" of a school or educational institution. By your description, it's on the "property" of the school, but is it on the "premises" of the school? Also, find out if it really is on property owned by the school. There are "campuses" that are really collections of property owned by both the school and other private entities that happen to be in the same general part of town. It doesn't really make the whole area a school.

I'm not sure I'd carry if the Hilton property was really owned by the school.

PC §46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05:
(a)
(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution
...
(c) In this section:
(1) "Premises" has the meaning assigned by Section 46.035.
...
PC §46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE
HOLDER.
...
(f) In this section:
...
(3) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a building. The
term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk
or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.

The hotel is run by the college of hotel & restaurant management at UH. I believe they own it as well but not 100% sure.

As I remember from my days along Cullen Blvd, that hotel is to UH's Hotel & Restaurant Management degree program what a "teaching hospital" is to a Medical School degree program - it's either partially or perhaps entirely staffed by students. I realize this just adds to the confusion, but thought I'd throw it out there as it would seem to somehow affect the CHL status. Definitely agree that is a bad part of town and leaving in your car is not a good idea.

EDITED TO ADD: Just looked at a Google maps satellite view and now remember that the hotel is on the other side of Calhoun Road. I don't know for certain, but when I was there that area east of Calhoun always "seemed" to be "off campus" ..... doesn't mean it IS off campus, just seemed that way - nothing else really campus related over there at the time (no classroom buildings, etc, just a bookstore and some restaurants). Of course, Calhoun Road has changed from the looks of this map (doesn't cut straight through to I-45 anymore) and there is more stuff on the hotel side of things. So who knows ..... (sorry to continue to just add to the confusion ... stupid campus carry prohibition )

If students are working at the hotel to earn credit. It is then a school, no?

It's not against the law to carry on a university campus although it may be against U of H policy. It's only against the law to carry on the premises of a university (meaning inside the buildings.) However, are you certain that the Hilton is on the campus and not near the campus? It's not listed in the campus map, and looking at a Google satellite view, it appears to be next to the campus or right on its edge.

The Hilton website is ambiguous, stating both that the hotel is on and near the campus.

The Hilton company has a no-firearms-allowed policy, but if they're not 30.06 posted, it is not against the law to carry there unless they discover that you are, ask you to leave and you refuse to leave.

Of course, the usual disclaimers apply. IANAL and I could be interpreting the law incorrectly. The decisions you make, even if based on information I've given you, are your responsibility and yours alone.

Beiruty wrote:If students are working at the hotel to earn credit. It is then a school, no?

No. Students often intern for credit in various businesses, including accounting firms, high technology firms, etc., but those firms are for profit enterprises whose only relationship to a university is the symbiotic relationship that provides them with free or low cost labor in return for on-the-job training that is invaluable to the students. The Hilton site (linked in my other response) states that both students and employees work there.

Edited to add: I think I should expand on this, because people might not be aware of what goes on at universities. UTD has a world-wide known College of Engineering and Computer Science. Nortel has made numerous significant contributions to UTD and frequently hires UTD grads. As part of the relationship, Nortel makes some intern positions available for Engineering or Computer Science students. Those students might work at Nortel for a semester, or even longer, and they are paid, but not handsomely, for their work. Their internships count toward their degrees and also give them a foot in the door to get hired after graduation, if they impress their bosses. UTD has internships for academic credit in numerous field.

The Hilton at UH is actually also the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Even if it is not posted, it is both on the campus and a premise of the University.
http://www.hrm.uh.edu/default.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Carry-a-Kimber wrote:The Hilton at UH is actually also the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Even if it is not posted, it is both on the campus and a premise of the University.
http://www.hrm.uh.edu/default.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The hotel and the school of restaurant management are two separate buildings: school is south of University Dr and west of Calhoun, hotel is north of University and east of Calhoun.

austinrealtor wrote:

Carry-a-Kimber wrote:The Hilton at UH is actually also the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Even if it is not posted, it is both on the campus and a premise of the University.
http://www.hrm.uh.edu/default.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The hotel and the school of restaurant management are two separate buildings: school is south of University Dr and west of Calhoun, hotel is north of University and east of Calhoun.

From the school's website.

"Our location, within the Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center, puts you in the middle of the action from your first day on campus."

There may be classes in two different building but the hotel is still used as the HRM School's primary teaching facility.

I strongly suspect that the Hotel would be a "no-go" for carry. I would avoid the place.

I agree that it is a no-go (illegal) from my experience at U of H. Also I just want to second the notion that you should not leave your weapon in your vehicle. The only exception to that is if you have a safe in your car that is bolted in very well and honestly I am not sure if I would trust that even. I personally was carpooling with a friend to school one day when we came out to find all four of his nice chrome wheels gone and his truck on bricks. If thieves have that much time to steal his wheels they might be able to steal your safe.

I really appreciate the thoughtful responses. The discussion was very helpful.

On occasion, I have done illegal things.

One of those is, if there is a legal 'don't do it' signage on a door, I am not going to go back and put pistola in the trunk.

Motels and enterainment places are, I think, more secure internally these days. Parking lots aren't.

salty