L-1 is now in Lufkin

[longtooth]

For students that choose to go to L-1 for prints:

Do they take print cards?

Is DL all the ID needed?

Thanks.
LT

[infoman]

they don't need cards, and I believe ID/DL is all they need. they take people's photos there also, but remember DPS does not use their photos. They still need to mail in photos. (if new applicants).

[longtooth]

That is what I thought but wanted to double check it.

[MoJo]

LT, L1 makes your job and DPS' job just that much easier. I was going to get certified to do prints until they told us they preferred L1 and L1 was going to be mandated soon.

I hope they link the CHL photos to the drivers license/ID card photos like they said. My latest CHL photo should have "Shoot on sight" posted on it. I've seen friendlier looking people on the Post Office wall.

[Keith B]

Yeah, my CHL photo is no glamor shot. It was 105° the day we went to the range, and Crossfire and Marty took the photo AFTER the range visit. I am no Brad Pitt, but my CHL photo looks a lot like this one.

[Crossfire]

Yes, Keith. YOU are the reason we take photos first now.

[sjfcontrol]

My picture (not taken by Crossfire) looks kinda like this...

[Charles L. Cotton]

I'm with MoJo on this; L-1 makes life easier on instructors and students! Drivers license photos are in the works; soon people with a Texas Drivers License won't have to submit photos.

Chas.

[sjfcontrol]

I'm with MoJo on this; L-1 makes life easier on instructors and students! Drivers license photos are in the works; soon people with a Texas Drivers License won't have to submit photos.

Chas.

Charles:

Yes, L-1 is convenient for instructors. But it is NOT convenient for the student. It is an extra fee, and it is another place the student has to go to get all the paperwork done. It is also a problem for those instructors who want to be a "one-stop shop", but cannot get L-1 franchises. DPS counters this by saying that it is an equal detriment to all instructors, but that isn't so either. SOME instructors HAVE managed to get franchises -- they just aren't giving out any more of them. That gives those instructors with L-1 franchises an unfair advantage.

By the way, how long does it take to get your fingerprints done at L-1? How does that compare to the time to have them rolled?

[Charles L. Cotton]

I'm with MoJo on this; L-1 makes life easier on instructors and students! Drivers license photos are in the works; soon people with a Texas Drivers License won't have to submit photos.

Chas.

Charles:

Yes, L-1 is convenient for instructors. But it is NOT convenient for the student. It is an extra fee, and it is another place the student has to go to get all the paperwork done. It is also a problem for those instructors who want to be a "one-stop shop", but cannot get L-1 franchises. DPS counters this by saying that it is an equal detriment to all instructors, but that isn't so either. SOME instructors HAVE managed to get franchises -- they just aren't giving out any more of them. That gives those instructors with L-1 franchises an unfair advantage.

By the way, how long does it take to get your fingerprints done at L-1? How does that compare to the time to have them rolled?

I don't know how long it takes, but I haven't heard any of my students complain. I suspect having to get an appointment avoids having to wait very long. I agree with your comment about students having to go to a second location. However, with a 30% FBI rejection rate on rolled prints v. < 1% for digital prints, it may be worth the extra trip to get digital fingerprints. I wish they had "mobile" franchises so they could come to the classes.

At PSC, we haven't quit offering rolled prints but we may have to soon. In the last two classes, everyone opted to get digital prints.

Chas.

[Crossfire]

You know, Charles, I would like to see some documentation on the 30% reject rate for rolled prints. I keep hearing this from DPS, but our reject rate is about 2%. I find it hard to believe that we are just THAT good. Maybe, but still hard to believe.

And I agree on the frustration with L1. We certainly want to continue to be the one-stop shop that we are currently, but L1 refuses to talk to us. Since DPS has given a monopoly to one company for this, sure would be nice if they would level the playing field, as I am aware there ARE CHL instructors in DFW who managed to get L1 franchises. And we would love to be that mobile shop you talked about. That is how we originally approached L1, but they are not interested. Apparently, our $5000 franchise fee is not good enough for them. And, we looked into just buying the equipment on our own, and doing our own digital prints, but again, not good enough for DPS because we are not L1.

[KFP]

I have encouraged students to use them for the prints after the course. Some students have reported back that L-1 informed them that the photos that I had supplied would not work for DPS, and they would be happy to do them for an additional $15.

I find the claims interesting, because I (cross my fingers, knock on wood) have never had DPS reject anything at all, including photos from others in the same class. I have started showing each student that their photo is the appropriate size, as is the size of their head. I strongly encourage my students to ONLY do prints there, and not fall for what I believe to be a revenue boosting scheme for L-1.

[sjfcontrol]

Are standard Passport photos acceptable? Are passport photos on a white background?

[KFP]

Are standard Passport photos acceptable? Are passport photos on a white background?

That's what they're looking for.