jhutto wrote:
OK, I am a CHL. I have been charged with this. Can I contunue to carry. Will my License be suspended? Sorry I have no details about how this really happened. I went to update my drivers license and was arrested. I
never carry anywhere like 51% BARS, COURT HOUSES SCHOOLS, 30-06 ETC. I have never been confroned by a leo for unlawful carry, I am not sure what is going on. but need to know how I can be sure to contunue to carry legaly. I read that a licence MAY be suspended if charged with a class A or B misd... Can anyone paste in some info on if this is a class A, or B misd, and what ramifications it has on a CHL? Honestly I think someone is trying to screw with me.
Thanks for the assistance, as always, you guys are a great help.
Just so we understand this correctly... You went to DPS to renew your drivers license, and were arrested
there for unlawful carry? Was the license renewal location in the same building as a courthouse? Did the arresting officer (was this DPS?) state WHY you were "unlawful" at the time of the arrest?
If you don't want to share details because it's a pending legal matter, that's understandable, but otherwise I think we need more details to realize what happened here.
I'm not a lawyer, and highly recommend you get one ASAP. It looks like this could be a Class A misdemeanor.
For the purposes of this discussion I'm pasting what I think are the relevant laws from the 2007-2008 "Texas Concealed Handgun Laws and Selected Statues" :
PC §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.
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly,
or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a handgun in a
motor vehicle that is owned by the person or under the person's
control at any time in which:
(1) the handgun is in plain view; or
(2) the person is:
(A) engaged in criminal activity, other than a Class C misdemeanor
that is a violation of a law or ordinance regulating traffic;
(B) prohibited by law from possessing a firearm; or
(C) a member of a criminal street gang, as defined by Section
71.01.
(a-2) For purposes of this section, "premises" includes real property
and a recreational vehicle that is being used as living quarters, regardless
of whether that use is temporary or permanent. In this subsection,
"recreational vehicle" means a motor vehicle primarily designed as
temporary living quarters or a vehicle that contains temporary living
quarters and is designed to be towed by a motor vehicle. The term
includes a travel trailer, camping trailer, truck camper, motor home,
and horse trailer with living quarters.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an offense under this
section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if the
offense is committed on any premises licensed or issued a permit by
this state for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
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,
any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or
educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation
vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or
educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the institution;
(2) on the premises of a polling place on the day of an election or
while early voting is in progress;
(3) on the premises of any government court or offices utilized by
the court, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization
of the court;
(4) on the premises of a racetrack; or
(5) in or into a secured area of an airport.
(6) within 1,000 feet of premises the location of which is designated
by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a place of
execution under Article 43.19, Code of Criminal Procedure, on a day
that a sentence of death is set to be imposed on the designated
premises and the person received notice that:
(A) going within 1,000 feet of the premises with a weapon listed
under this subsection was prohibited; or
(B) possessing a weapon listed under this subsection within
1,000 feet of the premises was prohibited.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections (a)(1)-(4) that
the actor possessed a firearm while in the actual discharge of his official
duties as a member of the armed forces or national guard or a
guard employed by a penal institution, or an officer of the court.
(c) In this section:
(1) "Premises" has the meaning assigned by Section 46.035.
(2) "Secured area" means an area of an airport terminal building
to which access is controlled by the inspection of persons and property
under federal law.
(d) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(5) that the
actor possessed a firearm or club while traveling to or from the actor's
place of assignment or in the actual discharge of duties as:
(1) a member of the armed forces or national guard;
(2) a guard employed by a penal institution; or
(3) a security officer commissioned by the Texas Board of Private
Investigators and Private Security Agencies if:
(A) the actor is wearing a distinctive uniform; and
(B) the firearm or club is in plain view; or
(4)* *(deleted by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 318.)
(5) a security officer who holds a personal protection authorization
under the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act (Article
4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes).
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(5) that the
actor checked all firearms as baggage in accordance with federal or
state law or regulations before entering a secured area.
(f) It is not a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor
possessed a handgun and was licensed to carry a concealed handgun
under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
(g) An offense under this section is a third degree felony.
(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(4) that the
actor possessed a firearm or club while traveling to or from the actor's
place of assignment or in the actual discharge of duties as a security
officer commissioned by the Texas Board of Private Investigators and
Private Security Agencies, if:
(1) the actor is wearing a distinctive uniform; and
(2) the firearm or club is in plain view.
(i) It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a)(6) that the
actor possessed a firearm or club:
(1) while in a vehicle being driven on a public road; or
(2) at the actor's residence or place of employment.
PC §46.035. UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF HANDGUN BY LICENSE
HOLDER. (a) A license holder commits an offense if the license
holder carries a handgun on or about the license holder's person
under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
and intentionally fails to conceal the handgun.
(b) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun under the authority
of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless of
whether the handgun is concealed, on or about the license holder's
person:
(1) on the premises of a business that has a permit or license issued
under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic Beverage Code, if
the business derives 51 percent or more of its income from the sale or
service of alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption, as
determined by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission under Section
104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code;
(2) on the premises where a high school, collegiate, or professional
sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place, unless
the license holder is a participant in the event and a handgun is used
in the event;
(3) on the premises of a correctional facility;
(4) on the premises of a hospital licensed under Chapter 241,
Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing home licensed
under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless the license
holder has written authorization of the hospital or nursing home
administration, as appropriate;
(5) in an amusement park; or
(6) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established
place of religious worship.
(c) A license holder commits an offense if the license holder intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun under the authority
of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless of
whether the handgun is concealed, at any meeting of a governmental
entity.
(d) A license holder commits an offense if, while intoxicated, the
license holder carries a handgun under the authority of Subchapter H,
Chapter 411, Government Code, regardless of whether the handgun is
concealed.
(e) A license holder who is licensed as a security officer under
Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, and employed as a security officer
commits an offense if, while in the course and scope of the security
officer's employment, the security officer violates a provision of
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
(f) In this section:
(1) "Amusement park" means a permanent indoor or outdoor
facility or park where amusement rides are available for use by the
public that is located in a county with a population of more than one
million, encompasses at least 75 acres in surface area, is enclosed
with access only through controlled entries, is open for operation more
than 120 days in each calendar year, and has security guards on the
premises at all times. The term does not include any public or private
driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or
other parking area.
(2) "License holder" means a person licensed to carry a handgun
under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
(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.
(g) An offense under Subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) is a Class A
misdemeanor, unless the offense is committed under Subsection
(b)(1) or (b)(3), in which event the offense is a felony of the third
degree.
(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the
actor, at the time of the commission of the offense, displayed the
handgun under circumstances in which the actor would have been
justified in the use of deadly force under Chapter 9.
[double amendment to same provision]
(h-1) *[as added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., HB 1889.] It is a defense to
prosecution under Subsections (b) and (c) that the actor, at the time of
the commission of the offense, was:
(1) an active judicial officer, as defined by Section 411.201,
Government Code; or
(2) a bailiff designated by the active judicial officer and engaged
in escorting the officer.
(h-1) *[as added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., HB 2300.] It is a defense to
prosecution under Subsections (b)(1), (2), and (4)-(6), and (c) that at
the time of the commission of the offense, the actor was:
(1) a judge or justice of a federal court;
(2) an active judicial officer, as defined by Section 411.201,
Government Code; or
(3) a district attorney, assistant district attorney, criminal district
attorney, assistant criminal district attorney, county attorney, or assistant
county attorney.
(i) Subsections (b)(4), (b)(5), (b)(6), and (c) do not apply if the actor
was not given effective notice under Section 30.06.
(j) Subsections (a) and (b)(1) do not apply to a historical reenactment
performed in compliance with the rules of the Texas Alcoholic
Beverage Commission.
