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I was picked up for a couple PIs in Dallas about six or seven years ago. I can't remember which jail I was held at, but it was somewhere in downtown Dallas, and I don't know the exact dates. I pled no contest both times, and never went to court for either (nor was required to). Dallas County's online records search shows no record of these incidents, and I've spoken with the misdemeanor records folks who have no record of it, and say I need to call the jail, since I never appeared in court (nor was required to). I've spoken with someone at Lew Sterrett who told me she has no way to find out where I was held and didn't even know who she could refer me to.

I'd like to play it safe and send record of both events with my CHL application, but I don't know how I can. If Dallas County's records don't list the incidents, is there some other way that the state would find out about them? If so, could I try to get the information that way, too?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Welcome to the forum.

I would recommend you list them to the best of your ability on your application. Also go to the Dallas County Court records office and get a letter stating that no records were found and include that with your application. If they can't find any record either, they should pass it on. If they find a discrepancy, then they may come back asking for more information and you can follow-up with the request at that point. The big thing is you have listed them and are disclosing what you remember.

firsttimechl wrote: I pled no contest both times, and never went to court for either

if you pled no contest but didn't go to court, to whom did you plead no contest?

Keith B wrote: Also go to the Dallas County Court records office and get a letter stating that no records were found and include that with your application.

As Keith said, list them to the best of your recollection on your application. I'm not sure I would go to any more trouble to get the court records. I was arrested for MIP once, listed all the details I could remember on my application and sent in the application. I didn't attach any court records, etc from the county and I had no problem getting my CHL.

Of course, your experience may vary but I didn't have to go through all the extra paperwork.

Thanks for the responses, folks. I'll list them and let the state decide if they want to pursue the issue.

Teamless wrote:if you pled no contest but didn't go to court, to whom did you plead no contest?

To the clerk, when I paid the fine, same as someone would when paying a speeding ticket. Let's preempt any technicalities and leave it at, "Now you know what I mean."

firsttimechl wrote:To the clerk, when I paid the fine, same as someone would when paying a speeding ticket.

Thanks, I was unaware you could do that! I thought all plea's had to be done to a judge.
Thanks for the education!

I understand you can also go to your local police department and have them pull a NCIC on yourself for a small fee and you can see exactly what DPS will see. This is per my CHL instructor who said this is done all the time and recommended it to anyone that was unsure of their record so that you application would be processed faster since it would be complete.

brentski wrote:I understand you can also go to your local police department and have them pull a NCIC on yourself for a small fee and you can see exactly what DPS will see. This is per my CHL instructor who said this is done all the time and recommended it to anyone that was unsure of their record so that you application would be processed faster since it would be complete.

I believe this is incorrect. The NCIC is a system maintained by the FBI and shows only information submitted to it. The Texas DPS does a more thorough, intrastate search when vetting CHL applications.

Get on the TX DPS website and pay for your criminal history. You will see if it is there. If it is an error, there is a process to request DPS to investigate and they update the sheet.

PI is a class C misdemeanor and won't show up on a CCH check.

Try municipal PDs to look for the arrest info in their records.

Check with the City of Dallas municipal court.