Reducing the penalty for committing an offense under 30.06

[Coogan]

Charles,

Would it be politically possible in Texas to reduce the charge for committing an offense under 30.06 from a Class A misdemeanor to a simple fine? Kansas recently made a change similar to this -- 1st offense is $50, 2nd offense is $100, 3rd offense is a Class B misdemeanor.

This would benefit CHL holders because they could safely walk past a 30.06 sign, knowing that in the unlikely event of being caught with a concealed handgun, they would only get a slap on the wrist.

Also, if open carry were to ever pass in Texas, and more 30.06 signs start popping up, CHLs could still carry if they are willing to pay the small fine (if caught).

I wouldn't mind seeing TSRA pursue this in 2013.

[macavity]

-removed by user-

[RPB]

Penalty lowering for an inadvertent not seeing the sign in an inconspicuous place in a city/county with John Woods Brady Spokesman on the jury might be nice

[chartreuse]

Penalty lowering for an inadvertent not seeing the sign in an inconspicuous place in a city/county with John Woods Brady Spokesman on the jury might be nice

That was pretty much the scenario I envisaged, too. Except in my version, by some amazing quirk of improbability, the Brady Spokesman had managed to get himself elected DA.

[gemini]

I am not a moderator, I never pretend to be, and I don't think it's my place to correct anyone on this board
regarding forum rules or policy. That's the mod's job, not mine. That said, I don't think you owe anyone here
an apology. You simply asked a question. Put it out there for discussion. You were not advocating breaking any
laws. I was interested in the thread or I wouldn't have clicked on it. Geeessh. I see you're fairly new, keep posting questions if you
have them.

[C-dub]

Definitely not so we could walk past one if we could afford the fine, but yes to avoid missing a sign and getting our license suspended or revoked.

[chasfm11]

Definitely not so we could walk past one if we could afford the fine, but yes to avoid missing a sign and getting our license suspended or revoked.

I agree. The signs at Grapevine Mills mall, for example, are plaques. While they appear to meet the wording criteria, size, etc., they look more like plaques. And, they are only at the mall entrances, not any of the stores. It would be easy to entry through Penney's or Bed, Bath, etc. and never see them. Since I know they are there, I'm not only not going to carry there, I'm not going to shop there.

While I agree that some crazy event would have to occur before your are detected, reducing the penalty would be reasonable, especially in a case like that.

[C-dub]

The invalidness of the GVM signs are discussed in several other threads. It would be nice to see some sort of automatic penalty for PD's that arrest people when the signs are not correct.

[MeMelYup]

This is why CC and OC should be completly seperate. Possibly OC would not require a license and have the same restrictions as CC had before year 2000, and to opt out all a store needs would be the sign for unlicensed handguns.

[C-dub]

This is why CC and OC should be completly seperate. Possibly OC would not require a license and have the same restrictions as CC had before year 2000, and to opt out all a store needs would be the sign for unlicensed handguns.

Ouch! I hadn't thought about those. There are a bunch of those already up. Every restaurant and Walmart. About the only place I can think of that doesn't have any sign prohibiting guns I frequent is the grocery store.

[Keith B]

This is why CC and OC should be completly seperate. Possibly OC would not require a license and have the same restrictions as CC had before year 2000, and to opt out all a store needs would be the sign for unlicensed handguns.

Ouch! I hadn't thought about those. There are a bunch of those already up. Every restaurant and Walmart. About the only place I can think of that doesn't have any sign prohibiting guns I frequent is the grocery store.

And if your grocery store sells liquor at all, they are supposed to have one posted.

[PeteCamp]

The invalidness of the GVM signs are discussed in several other threads. It would be nice to see some sort of automatic penalty for PD's that arrest people when the signs are not correct.

It would be nice if the Legislature would clean up the wording about 30.06 and clarify the language so as to remove any thought of arresting someone for unintentional exposure. Not that many get arrested, but it seems a great many are overly concerned about it because of a few horror stories. Just MHO, anyway.

[Oldgringo]

This is why CC and OC should be completly seperate. Possibly OC would not require a license and have the same restrictions as CC had before year 2000, and to opt out all a store needs would be the sign for unlicensed handguns.

Ouch! I hadn't thought about those. There are a bunch of those already up. Every restaurant and Walmart. About the only place I can think of that doesn't have any sign prohibiting guns I frequent is the grocery store.

And if your grocery store sells liquor at all, they are supposed to have one posted.

I believe it is illegal for a grocery store to sell liquor in Texas. My liquor store, OTOH, has the same "no unlicensed guns" sign that Wal-Mart and Sam's has.

[sjfcontrol]

This is why CC and OC should be completly seperate. Possibly OC would not require a license and have the same restrictions as CC had before year 2000, and to opt out all a store needs would be the sign for unlicensed handguns.

Ouch! I hadn't thought about those. There are a bunch of those already up. Every restaurant and Walmart. About the only place I can think of that doesn't have any sign prohibiting guns I frequent is the grocery store.

And if your grocery store sells liquor at all, they are supposed to have one posted.

I believe it is illegal for a grocery store to sell liquor in Texas. My liquor store, OTOH, has the same "no unlicensed guns" sign that Wal-Mart and Sam's has.

"liquor" in this context is any alcoholic beverage including beer and wine. They all need the "unlicensed possession" sign. So if your grocery store sells beer, it needs the unlicensed sign (license: "sign = blue")

[Oldgringo]

This is why CC and OC should be completly seperate. Possibly OC would not require a license and have the same restrictions as CC had before year 2000, and to opt out all a store needs would be the sign for unlicensed handguns.

Ouch! I hadn't thought about those. There are a bunch of those already up. Every restaurant and Walmart. About the only place I can think of that doesn't have any sign prohibiting guns I frequent is the grocery store.

And if your grocery store sells liquor at all, they are supposed to have one posted.

I believe it is illegal for a grocery store to sell liquor in Texas. My liquor store, OTOH, has the same "no unlicensed guns" sign that Wal-Mart and Sam's has.

"liquor" in this context is any alcoholic beverage including beer and wine. They all need the "unlicensed possession" sign. So if your grocery store sells beer, it needs the unlicensed sign (license: "sign = blue")

Liquor is liquor and beer and wine are beer and wine according to TABC...and me.

Where should I find that "blue" sign in either Wal-Mart or Sam's Club, if I was interested? The "no unlicensed guns" sign is at the front door.