Changes to DPS Processing of CHL Applications

[jsimmons]

My experience with FAST electronic prints is that the state agencies do not/will not share. I have been printed for my profession(s) and asked if they could use the ones from xxxx and they told me no. DPS says the same thing. Every body has to have their own copy of the same thing. Why not share the digital files!??? Besides they are in the national database now....just pull them up online and save a copy. Having said that, do you think they will let us use the prints we used for the last application? I don't. Same process over and over again.

Get used to it!

JMOCO (just my own cynical opinion!)

The whole point of taking finger prints each time they're required is so they can check them against the database. It's not for storing - it's for comparing (they're verifying your identity). What good would it to for them to pull from the national database if that's what they're comparing against?

I know, it sucks to spend $10 each time, but that's our lot in life. Maybe electronic printing will cost less since there is no material to buy (cards/ink).

[LostInAustin]

But....when I reprinted at DPS, I had my receipt that they told me to hang on to, and they didn't charge me for the reprint. So, only the original 9.95 until they get it the way they want it!

[joshfelker]

Our company just recently purchased the Crossmatch Live Scan device to allow us to do electronic fingerprinting during the class. Expensive investment but will pay off for the student. I do think the state allowing the electronic submission of prints will speed up the entire process, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Still would like more of an outline of what the results of the interview was with DPS.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Our company just recently purchased the Crossmatch Live Scan device to allow us to do electronic fingerprinting during the class. Expensive investment but will pay off for the student. I do think the state allowing the electronic submission of prints will speed up the entire process, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Still would like more of an outline of what the results of the interview was with DPS.

Electronic submission by FAST is coming very soon, but since it appears FAST has a sole-source contract, they'll be the only ones doing it. DPS already accepts electronic submission for other than licensing purposes, so you have to wonder why the CHL bureau doesn't.

Chas.

[gwholt1]

Mr Cotton,
Thank you for the important up date! Your efforts in so many areas for CHL's here in Texas is much appreciated. It seems the change in personnel at DPSHQ will be a boon to progress. Again, thank you for your efforts on our behalf and the update.

Garry

[DoubleActionCHL]

Sounds good. Cutting down on the paperwork would be a plus. I'd be happy if they'd just implement a system for notifying instructors of procedural changes, rather than having to learn everything second-hand.

Thanks for all the hard work.

[Greybeard]

Just in from my numero 7 re-up school today. No mention during any of the sessions of the possibility of "forced FAST" or similar anytime soon. They did past out a list (udated 8-21-2009) of "approved fingerprinter" names and re-explained the process for instructors to get on it. One of the more significant forms of "streamlining" that did get announced was that instructors hereafter may be doing all of their classroom renewal time online and have to qualify in Florence only once every four years - although one of the earlier speakers mentioned maybe having to have another local CHL instructor requalify us at a "home" range every two years.

Bottom line was to watch the DPS web site for "updates", that they were moving toward instructors still giving the minimum 10 hours of instruction (or 4 for renewals), then students (applicants) going to a special (vendor) web site to complete the written testing. That tells me that if they plan to cut an exclusive deal with an "E learning" vendor in the next few months, an exclusive deal with a new or existing fingerprinting outfit would not be too much of a stretch either.

[tah]

However, I agree that having to make an appointment with FAST and go to another location will be less convenient on the front end. I don't know what other instructors are going to do, but I will reduce the cost of my classes by the fee I pay to a LEO to roll the prints. (I don't charge for photos since I do them myself.) Hopefully, some FAST franchise holders will be willing to travel to classrooms to do the prints, but even if they do, I suspect they will have a minimum class size requirement.

Chas.

It could make it very difficult. For instance If I had to go to Houston during a work day, during work hours, I would have to consider nor renewing. For those living the in big City, and don't have to go to work every day, the inconvenience isn't so great. The One Stop aspect makes it a whole lot easier for working people.

I live in Kaufman County. There is no FAST franchise in my county that does CHL prints. My choices after my fingerprint card was rejected by DPS were Waxahachie, North Richland Hills, Fort Worth and the oh-so-handy Love Field location. Try getting anywhere near Love Field after 4 pm!! Unlucky for me, I got laid off from my job so Waxahachie is where I went. Of course, the place was not clearly identified from the outside & then the wait was extensive as their machine wouldn't stay online.

I think every county courthouse should contain FAST and requiring bi-monthly Saturday hours should be mandatory.

[Crossfire]

Bottom line was to watch the DPS web site for "updates", that they were moving toward instructors still giving the minimum 10 hours of instruction (or 4 for renewals), then students (applicants) going to a special (vendor) web site to complete the written testing. That tells me that if they plan to cut an exclusive deal with an "E learning" vendor in the next few months, an exclusive deal with a new or existing fingerprinting outfit would not be too much of a stretch either.

I am not sure I understand this. DPS does not trust instructors to administer the written test??? This is complete nonsense.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Bottom line was to watch the DPS web site for "updates", that they were moving toward instructors still giving the minimum 10 hours of instruction (or 4 for renewals), then students (applicants) going to a special (vendor) web site to complete the written testing. That tells me that if they plan to cut an exclusive deal with an "E learning" vendor in the next few months, an exclusive deal with a new or existing fingerprinting outfit would not be too much of a stretch either.

I am not sure I understand this. DPS does not trust instructors to administer the written test??? This is complete nonsense.

I agree. Plus it requires the applicant to go to yet another location.

Chas.

[Greybeard]

The way I understood Sgt. Holmes' explanation was that the student's could complete the written test on their home computer. That there could be as many as 300 to 400 questions in the data base of test questions and a selected number of them would be randomly picked by the computer to be on a given student's test. Again pass or fail and 3 chances to pass. Potentially implemented early next year, target date not later than March 1.

I've been dealing with similar for the past 10 years as Texas Parks and Wildlife was the first in the country to initiate a "home study" option for hunter education. I got real sideways with a honcho in Austin over that one when they put the first "e learning" site online with so many glitches in it that I had students showing up in tears, wanting to buy the old fashion "manual" packet because they could not get the State's new online version to work. It's much better now and they have even added some more "on line" study options (for a fee). But the written test they provide us instructors is based upon the original publisher's material only, the laws have changed from the test material, but we are still using the same original test provided back in 1999. Hopefully, this new guy at DPS has more on the ball than the "HUB" that got the first "e learning" contract with T.P.&W. - or the people that administer it.

FWIW, Marion commented that she was being transferred and introduced her replacement. (Deedra. spelling?). Sgt. Holmes mentioned that he will be elsewhere after the end of this month ....

[Crossfire]

Exactly! I thought DPS was supposed to be streamlining their processes.

So, let's see... They want the students to apply online, wait for the mail to get their application, then go to one place to take the class, another to get digital prints, maybe another to get photos, and now let's add ANOTHER vendor to administer the written exam!

How many different entities have to touch this application? Seems like if you let the CHL instructor be responsible for as much of this as possible, then you only have one place to go back to when you have a problem.

[blue]

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Do Other States CHL work WITHOUT a Texas CHL for a Texas Resident?????
(Say Utah, Fla. etc.)

Renewals? (w/o TX CHL)

Which States ?


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Can we do SOMETHING to -Get Rid of this TX CHL NONSENSE- and be like -(CITIZENS ARE TRUSTED!)Alaska, Vermont?????????????
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(Enough IS Enough!!!!!!)
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( As "Lurch" so elegantly put it- GRRRRR!!!! )

Blue

[Keith B]

---------

Do Other States CHL work WITHOUT a Texas CHL for a Texas Resident?????
(Say Utah, Fla. etc.)

Renewals? (w/o TX CHL)

Which States ?


------------------------------------------------------

Can we do SOMETHING to -Get Rid of this TX CHL NONSENSE- and be like -(CITIZENS ARE TRUSTED!)Alaska, Vermont?????????????
------------------------------------------------------



(Enough IS Enough!!!!!!)

Blue

The answers to your questions can be best found by searching here http://www.handgunlaw.us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; to see which states licenses are honored in Texas.

The biggest caveat is that many states will not honor a non-resident license from a state, but will honor a resident one. for example, if you have a Florida non-resident CWL, then Texas will honor it, but Colorado won't. They WILL honor a Florida license for a Florida resident.

Another thing about carrying on non-resident license in Texas is you do not gain the Gun Free School Zone exemption and cannot carry within 1000 feet of a school. it can also be a questioned by LEO's if they are not as familiar with whether the license is accepted by Texas or not.

My opinion is if you live in Texas, get a Texas resident license. Non-resident licenses are good to gain additional states or as a backup if you should misplace your Texas CHL card.

Edited to fix link

[blue]

Thank you for the info.

Blue