Slow Texas CHL renewal process

[StephenT]

I've just got home tonight and checked my stack of mail. Still nothing from the Texas DPS.

 

[Art Eatman]

"In December 2007 a large and unexpected spike occurred in new CHL applicants. The bottle neck was blamed on this sudden surge in applications plus a litany other problems: 5 data processing jobs unfilled, flawed licenses due to a new license fabrication process, fewer applications on line than expected causing more data entry by staff, finger print rejects, incomplete packages returned, etc."

And

"The universal complaint from DPS, which may be justified, was more money and authorization to hire more employees. They have added 12 temps to the 40 full time employees working only on CHLs. We were also told the number of employees has not increased since the beginning of the program in 1996."

Looks like I'm a pretty good guesser when it comes to state bureaucracies. Oughta be; I spent fifteen years around all that...

Folks, you better feel lucky the system works as well as it does. The DPS pay scales would make schoolteachers feel smug.

Art

 

[ndolson]

Geez, and I thought we had it bad where I live, with the Sheriff's Dept making us wait the maximum waiting period of 45 days (in almost every case) and charging the maximum fee allowed by law.

 

[Rayden]

While I am waiting on my Texas CHL, is it possible to apply for an out-of-State one from a reciprocal state?

And if the reciprocal state license arrive first, can I use it to carry?

 

[TexasRifleman]

Rayden: Yes and Yes.

Florida is probably easiest.

 

[ghschirtz]

I am one of the problems, forgot a piece of paper in my app. I sent it in, checked progress once (and got a courteous reply) and finally have my license. As I reside in CA, I am just happy I have it and can carry when I am out of CA. Can't carry here...not trustworthy enough...mostly only cops, criminals and campaign contributors/other glitterati can.

 

[primlantah]

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasC...&t=14391&sid=d86a1cdaa4536d2766e47c736c28427e

 

[csmkersh]

Charlie Cotton, the owner and admin of http://www.texasshooting.com/ web site, is a lawyer and a shooter who works closely with Alice Tripp and Jim Dark, TSRA's ExDir, on legislative matters. If you have applied or going to apply for a Texas CHL, please pass the time to completion info to Charlie. It will be used in the 2009 Texas legislative session to resolve the problem.
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[Double Naught Spy]

Yes, DPS has had a glut of applications of late. Fiscal 2007 saw 91000 application. That is up from Fiscal 2006 that saw 68000. In other words up by 34%.

Here are some neat stats on the progression of licensing. The number of active permits at the end of each year...

2002 224K
2003 240K
2004 240K
2005 249K
2006 258K
2007 289K

No doubt the work load has increased fairly significantly in the last year or so.

 

[cedjunior]

I think people get upset when they mail in their application and the $140 check gets cashed 2 days later, but when they call a month and a half later asking where their PIN is, they're told sorry your app isn't even in the system yet.

I did my application online, payment was instant and I received my PIN with my completed application a week later. It took the DPS website 57 days after they received my prepaid application for the status to go from "Packet Mailed to Applicant" to "Processing application.

Others, like myself, have a problem with the inconsistency of the DPS. One person's experience over on the Texas Shooting forum was that he had his license in hand within 70 days, and that was including having to send them additonal documentation about half way through those 70 days. I'm currently at day 75 with no license in hand, and no additional documentation requested. That is very inconsistent.

 

[T J]

Texas CHL applications, & delays increase

Texas CHL applications and the related delays are still on the increase. I absolutely do not agree that there is any sort of a conspiracy to find ways to reject or delay licenses. On my last renewal there was a problem with the picture not being of good enough quality, and the DPS gave me a phone call to let me know. Since I was working in Austin, I went and had a new picture taken and hand delivered it to the DPS to the lady that called me. She was extremely nice and helpful and I received my license within a few days of giving them the new photograph.

May 8, 2008, 12:29AM
Texas caught off guard as more seek handgun permits
Some point to anti-gun politics as applications rise 39 percent and swamp the state
By JANET ELLIOTT
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
Available Online: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5762984.html
AUSTIN — Demand for concealed handgun licenses has risen nearly 40 percent in Texas in a year, an increase being attributed to many factors, even presidential politics.
Though the exact cause may be unclear, what's certain is that the spike in applications has caught the Department of Public Safety unprepared.
The state is taking a month longer than the 60 days allowed by law to process original applications and 80 days longer on renewals, which are supposed to be handled within 45 days.
"We're trying really hard, but there have been delays because of the tremendous increase in applications," said Tela Mange, a DPS spokeswoman.
She said the department is paying overtime and hiring temporary workers to reduce the backlog. Mange said she doesn't know why applications last month were 39 percent higher than they were in April 2007.
But Ross Bransford, who trains 1,000 Texans a year to qualify for a concealed handgun license, said he believes the looming 2008 election is a big factor.
"People are not sure what's going to happen after the election," said Bransford, who owns Austin-based CHL-Texas.com. "Both Democratic candidates are anti-gun in one fashion or another."
He said Sen. Barack Obama, who is leading the race for the nomination, is a "friend of (Democratic Senator) Ted Kennedy, and that scares everybody to death."
Other instructors mentioned an increased interest from young adults after last year's Virginia Tech massacre and recent changes in Texas law about carrying concealed weapons.
In 2007, lawmakers granted privacy to the 258,000 license holders by closing records that had been public since the concealed handgun law passed in 1995. They also extended the so-called "castle doctrine" defense to persons who use a gun to protect their vehicles, in addition to their homes.
45 minutes on hold
Alice Tripp, legislative director for the Texas State Rifle Association, the state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, said she hears daily from frustrated members about the delay in getting licenses.
She said some have been put on hold for 45 minutes when they called DPS to inquire about their licenses.
"They are really quite alarmed and annoyed," Tripp said. "They sat on hold, and had gotten no answers."
Last month, she took her group's concerns to a meeting with DPS officials, Gov. Rick Perry's legislative director Ken Armbrister and House Law Enforcement Chairman Joe Driver.
Driver, R-Garland, is demanding weekly reports from DPS on license applications. During the week that ended Friday, DPS said it processed 1,043 original and renewal applications but received 1,871 requests.
"I was very surprised at how far behind they are," Tripp said.
Renewal every 5 years
She said she can't understand why it is taking so long for renewals, because people with handgun licenses are continually checked against criminal databases and other records. Licenses must be renewed every five years.
"If you find yourself subject to a protective order, someone will knock on your door and take your license," she said.
Mange urged license applicants to use the DPS Web site to enter basic information required on the permit. Tripp said her members who have used the Web site tell her it does not speed the process.
Tripp said there is no grace period for expired handgun licenses.
Everyone seeking a license, and certain renewals, must take classes that cover safety, state law and conflict resolution. They must submit fingerprints, which DPS sends to the FBI for a background check, and a photo. They must carry their license when they carry a concealed handgun. There are some restrictions as to where concealed handguns can be carried in Texas.
Applicant's suspicions
Ron Freeman, a CPA who lives in Wimberley, said he was asked twice to redo fingerprints that were taken at a local constable's office.
He finally agreed to DPS' suggestion that he use an electronic fingerprint device run by a private company.
"I have a feeling that the Department of Public Safety is using the process as a filter to keep people from even having a gun," said Freeman, 60, who moved to Texas from Arizona last year.
Marsha McCartney, who represents the North Texas Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said she was surprised to learn that so many more Texans are applying to carry guns.
However, McCartney said she is more concerned about an expected battle in the next legislative session over whether the law should be changed to allow college students to carry guns on campus.

RESOURCES
ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK
During the week that ended Friday, DPS said, it processed 1,043 original and renewal applications but received 1,871 requests.

 

[TexasRifleman]

An update on mine. From my original post:

Mine renewal went in December, expired in February, and I still don't have it.

They told me flat out on the phone that they received my application, processed it, and failed to issue the license. They said it was all finished March 1, which is still past the 45 day deadline required, but somehow it didn't get mailed to me.

The nice lady apologized and promised to expedite my license. At first she wanted me to pay for a lost license charge but finally admitted that since they never even sent it that it would be OK... sheesh.....ya think?

That was last Monday, no idea how long that takes.

It's now 4 weeks later and still nothing. This from a "lost license" process that is supposed to take 2 to 3 weeks.

 

[StephenT]

Well, mine arrived in the mail at long last (of course, I've been out of town for the past two weeks). Nice to be able to pack again!

 

[TexasRifleman]

Mine arrived today, almost 3 months after the renewal date.

So glad I had the Florida to carry my over the gap.

I was going to let the Florida lapse the next time it came up but I'm going to go ahead and keep it renewed also.

 

[csmkersh]

A friend's wife got her renewal today. Time from DPS signing for packet (registered mail) to license in her possession was 39 days. Michael mailed his the same day but to a different PO Box as he had gone the on-line registration route. DPS signed for his 4 days later and he's still waiting.

I do my training the 14th of June and will have the packet in the mail the 16th. Even though I could by-pass the class and range, I'm going whole hog because on instructor is Judge Harle and another is a ADA and the primary is a DA's investigator. I'll perster them on "no retreat" and unlicensed possession in a vehicle per the changes Sept 1 2007.
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[calaverasslim]

Chl Tx

Took the class on 13 Apr, mailed packet on 14 Apr. and received the CHL on the 31st of May. 6-7 weeks? My friend took the class the day before I did and mailed his packet on the 15th and got his chl on Tuesday. Both were renewels.

Not as bad as I had read that it was going to be.