Police Station Posting

[soccerguy59]

I am attending a Allen PD Citizen's Academy and the entrance is posted no guns, it is not 30.06 but I do not remember the articale number, is this binding for CHL?

[AEA]

It is NOT Binding for the Public areas of the Police Station whether they know it or not!

[Penn]

The fact that you're attending the citizen's academy probably means that you will be entering secure areas though, so you should either ask about lockers or leave it in the car.

[Charles L. Cotton]

The new Gov't Code §411.207 allows a CHL to be disarmed under certain circumstances in a statutorily defined "law enforcement facility." To do so, the police dept. or sheriff's dept. must provide lockers for your gun, they cannot require you to leave your gun in the car.

However, citizens have no "right" to participate in citizen police academies, so not bringing a gun into the PD can be a requirement for participation in the program.

Chas.

[KBCraig]

I'll add that even though there's now an "authority to disarm" CHL holders entering secure, non-public areas of a police station, failing to disarm is not an offense.

[Beiruty]

I am in the same position of the original poster. Entering Allen City Police Department, there is a non-30.06 sign both in English and Spanish that sates carrying firearms (on the premises) are banned for anyone but a peace officer. Anyone who does otherwise will be ARRESTED! the sign refer to Chapter 46 of the code.

I approached the Community Relationship Officer, Sergent Jon Felty and asked about the sign and explained the that under the new law, only secure areas are restricted and where CHL can be disarmed, he responded that under the new law posting is enough to ban CHL and anyone else for that matter.

It seems questionable, maybe talking to the City Counselor can help resolve the issue.

[Keith B]

I am in the same position of the original poster. Entering Allen City Police Department, there is a non-30.06 sign both in English and Spanish that sates carrying firearms (on the premises) are banned for anyone but a peace officer. Anyone who does otherwise will be ARRESTED! the sign refer to Chapter 46 of the code.

I approached the Community Relationship Officer, Sergent Jon Felty and asked about the sign and explained the that under the new law, only secure areas are restricted and where CHL can be disarmed, he responded that under the new law posting is enough to ban CHL and anyone else for that matter.

It seems questionable, maybe talking to the City Counselor can help resolve the issue.

Sounds like a visit with the city attorney and/or an open records search might be in order.

[jimlongley]

I had the same conversation with Felty, and I'll bet you got a similar answer.

Actually, when I attended CPA, there was no 30.06 sign, just the one stating that no guns were allowed.

[Beiruty]

I had the same conversation with Felty, and I'll bet you got a similar answer.

Actually, when I attended CPA, there was no 30.06 sign, just the one stating that no guns were allowed.

it is NOT a 30.60 sign! it just a sign in English and Spanish referencing criminal code chapter 46. It seems outdated to me and now invalid.

[KFP]

McKinney also does this, but in order to be a part of the CPA you sign an agreement not to carry while in class.

[fickman]

For the Fort Worth code blue (Citizens on Patrol) program, carrying is prohibited while on duty.

You do not sign anything saying you will not carry, but the punishment for getting caught is simply being excused from the program.

I think they're worried about citizens thinking they're deputized, have the law behind them, or are vigilante superheros. I know none of these things are true for me. I won't confront a BG if I observe something while on patrol - I'll call it in every time. But that doesn't mean I won't be the victim of senseless crime myself in an unavoidable situation.

That's all I'll say.

[asleepatthereel]

I dont have my book handy, but I remember reading something about Police Stations with jails being off limits. In fact in the encounter I had last year, I was on my way to the PD to report it, when I remembered it, and stopped in a well lit parking lot and called them instead. Does the new law change that?

[KFP]

Sec. 411.207. AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICER TO DISARM.

(b) A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's official duties may temporarily disarm a license holder when a license holder enters a nonpublic, secure portion of a law enforcement facility, if the law enforcement agency provides a gun locker where the peace officer can secure the license holder's handgun. The peace officer shall secure the handgun in the locker and shall return the handgun to the license holder immediately after the license holder leaves the nonpublic, secure portion of the law enforcement facility.

(c) A law enforcement facility shall prominently display at each entrance to a nonpublic, secure portion of the facility a sign that gives notice in both English and Spanish that, under this section, a peace officer may temporarily disarm a license holder when the license holder enters the nonpublic, secure portion of the facility. The sign must appear in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height. The sign shall be displayed in a clearly visible and conspicuous manner.

(d) In this section:

(1) "Law enforcement facility" means a building or a portion of a building used exclusively by a law enforcement agency that employs peace officers as described by Articles 2.12(1) and (3), Code of Criminal Procedure, and support personnel to conduct the official business of the agency. The term does not include:

(A) any portion of a building not actively used exclusively to conduct the official business of the agency; or

(B) any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk, walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area.

(2) "Nonpublic, secure portion of a law enforcement facility" means that portion of a law enforcement facility to which the general public is denied access without express permission and to which access is granted solely to conduct the official business of the law enforcement agency.


Edit: I believe that there is a distinct difference between a jail (temporary visit) and a prison/detention facility (long visit).