TexasCHLforum.com

...lobbies, records divisions, etc may be open for public traffic, but investigators' offices, squadrooms, locker rooms, interview rooms, etc. are not open to public traffic without an officer escort...

...as to our notifying them we're carrying, there's supposed to be a sign telling US we're entering a non-public or secure area...but to play it safe, if I'm seeing him pop a lock, hit a keypad or swipe a card, I'll tell him...the very fact you're courteous will likely get you a wave-in...unless you're being questioned and under some suspicion...

4 "Separate" Courthouses here
1 "Separate" County Jail/Prison
1 "Separate" Police Station (no jail area that I'm aware of, but probably interrogation rooms etc)
1 "Separate" Sheriff Dept (probably a jail/holding area, but probably interrogation rooms etc)

I've been in the Police Dept Lobby/Information desk armed once, gave the front desk guy some discount coupons for IWB holsters to pass out to anyone interested/post on their bulletin board.

I've been in the Sheriff's dept Lobby//Information desk several times, they have the lobby, and 2 locked doors off of the Lobby, one goes to offices, the other I assume to jail/holding area. Twice I've been invited back into the office area; they ring a buzzer and accompanied me to let me in and there's desks with ladies and Deputies there. I think once I asked if it was a problem if I had a CHL and was carrying and they said nah, they were there with me, but I couldn't go through the "other" door off the lobby.

Oddly, I can't go into the DPS office or license plate tax office, they're in the courthouse next door past the metal detectors.

GC §411.207. AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICER TO DISARM.
(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

No sign, no secured area. Offices and such are not considered Non Public Secure Areas unless they are posted as such in english and spanish.

The detective did not need my statement to be taken. I stayed out in the waiting room outside of his office area while my wife was taken back to an interview room.The waiting room is off the main floor from the elevator and accessible by the public. Inside is a glass window (not sure if bullet proof?) and two doors that required a proxy card to access. While waiting for her to finish, everyone who did not have a proxy card, was escorted back. So I would assume it is considered a non-public area.

I appreciate all the feedback. If I have to go back, I am not disarming. If I have to go through a door secured by a proxy card, I will at that time inform the detective that I have my CHL and am carrying. But not if I am in an area accessible to the general public.

Thanks,

Ron

G.A. Heath wrote:I have been told by LEOs that I know that county jails are not considered correctional facilities, however asking a LEO for legal advice is like asking an attorney to tune up your car. They know something about it, but an expert opinion is better.

I would agree that you should not ask a cop for legal advice. But you can always check the law. For example, Penal Code section 1.07(a)(14) defines a correctional facility for any part of the Penal Code. It says:

(14) "Correctional facility" means a place designated by law for the confinement of a person arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a criminal offense. The term includes:
(A) a municipal or county jail;
(B) a confinement facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
(C) a confinement facility operated under contract with any division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and
(D) a community corrections facility operated by a community supervision and corrections department.