Page 1 of 1

Drivers lisense question kind of.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:16 pm
by BSB
I went in to get a change of address on my drivers lisense and told the clerk that I couldn't do it on line. She said it was because I had a CHL and that I probably wont ever be able to do it on line. Have any of you heard this before and why?

Re: Drivers lisense question kind of.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:30 pm
by txinvestigator
BSB wrote:I went in to get a change of address on my drivers lisense and told the clerk that I couldn't do it on line. She said it was because I had a CHL and that I probably wont ever be able to do it on line. Have any of you heard this before and why?
That is wrong. You can only renew online every other renewal.

From DPS:

Who is eligible to renew online or via the telephone?

Your license expires within one year as of today's date and has not been expired for more than two years.

Your last renewal was completed in person at a Texas driver license office.

You do not currently hold a provisional driver license. (All drivers 18 years of age or younger must renew in person.).

You currently hold a Class C or CM license. (All Class A or B licenses and Commercial Driver Licenses must be renewed in person.).

You have no change in your vision, physical or mental condition that would affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Your record indicates that you are eligible to renew online. (No outstanding traffic tickets or warrants).

Your browser supports 128 bit encryption.


Nothing about CHL. I renewed my DL online last time. I have had a CHL since 1996.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:51 pm
by ScubaSigGuy
I think that the problem is he wasn't renewing, he was changing his address. It makes since that they wouldn't let him change it online since his CHL would have to be changed as well. It's probably a check and balance to make sure that you don't change your DL address and neglect changing your CHL address. That would be an interesting traffic stop if you were able to change one without the other.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:59 pm
by txinvestigator
ScubaSigGuy wrote:I think that the problem is he wasn't renewing, he was changing his address. It makes since that they wouldn't let him change it online since his CHL would have to be changed as well. It's probably a check and balance to make sure that you don't change your DL address and neglect changing your CHL address. That would be an interesting traffic stop if you were able to change one without the other.
You can do that too; When I moved to my new house in '03, I did a change of address online.

Who is eligible to obtain an address change online?

Your license or identification card is not expired. If your license or ID expires with in one year as of today’s date you may be eligible to renew.

You do not currently hold a provisional driver license. (All drivers 18 years of age or younger must renew in person.).

You currently hold a Class C or CM license. (Address changes for all Class A or B licenses and Commercial Driver Licenses must be obtained in person).

You have no change in your vision, physical or mental condition that would affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Your record indicates that you are eligible to change your address online. (No current suspension/revocations).

Your browser supports 128 bit encryption.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:00 pm
by txinvestigator
ScubaSigGuy wrote:. That would be an interesting traffic stop if you were able to change one without the other.
The officer could write DPS and your CHL could be suspended for 30 days.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:06 pm
by ScubaSigGuy
It wouldn't be the first time that I have been wrong and I'm sure not the last.

It just seems to make sense. Maybe they have changed the procedure. ??? It would be interesting to hear from an expert in that field. LOL.

I know better than to challenge TXI. I think that he has three computer screens going at any given time (like the Bill Gates setup). Not to mention that his favorites are listed categorically to get insant access to every statute in the Texas PC. :smilelol5:

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:11 pm
by BSB
My CHL was filed just before I moved and I contacted them after I recieved my pin and they changed it to the new address. So my CHL was correct. I just could not change my drivers on line which might of been due to the fact that I am in a new neighborhood. The clerk might not of known what she was talking about. I do know that it is a strange feeling when someone knows that you have a CHL. I did not think that it would show on her screen but it did obviously.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:12 pm
by srothstein
I would guess that the clerk misunderstood and confused the CHL and CDL. The CDL (Commercial Driver's License) cannot be changed or updated on line.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:42 pm
by Commander
As a matter of information the DL and CHL data bases are maintained separately by different divisions within the DPS. The DL database is under the Driver's License Division. The CHL Database is under the Administration Division. The address changes are handled by each separate division.

That being said, when a LEO submits a check on a DL. The DL file is accessed and the information returned. The DL database automatically submits an inquiry to the CHL Database. If a record is found, it is returned back to the inquirer as a separate return from the DL return. Also as a matter of information, there is no cross check from running the license plate on a vehicle. It is not possible, in Texas, to learn if a driver has a CHL by running his/her license plate number.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:52 am
by Steve #1
txinvestigator wrote:The officer could write DPS and your CHL could be suspended for 30 days.
That’s interesting to know. I had been lead to believe that the CHL would be invalid if the address wasn't changed within 30 days.

As for the question of the topic, I changed my DL address online recently when I moved with my CHL still at my old address.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:37 am
by BSB
S&W she said it was because I have a CHL so you are obviously wrong. She was able to see that I have one on her computer.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:01 am
by nitrogen
I *JUST* did a change of address on both my DL and CHL. Didn't have a problem. Got my DL in 7 business days, and my CHL in 14ish.

What happened when you tried to do it online? Did it error out?
If so check the date and time on your computer. That's the most common reason for "128 bit encrypted" sites to fail

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:48 am
by BSB
I think it is because I am in a new track of homes and it is a new street. It would not accept my address.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:35 am
by Commander
BSB wrote:S&W she said it was because I have a CHL so you are obviously wrong. She was able to see that I have one on her computer.
I'm not sure what I'm wrong on....Yes, the DL clerk will see that you have a CHL (a DL inquiry also checks the CHL database, but its still a separate data base) I will check and verify the policy on DL address changes and let you know.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 12:08 pm
by BSB
I thought you were saying that she wouldn't have access to weather or not I have a CHL.