TexasCHLforum.com

ES4Me wrote:

jsimmons wrote: I wasn't planning a Wally Walk. I'm too annoyed about this whole thing anyway. Asking about the status via email is pointless. Asking for help from your state representative is pointless. Expecting people to just do their jobs is pointless. Expecting governmental response in a timely fashion is pointless.

I think legally, the DPS got to reset your clock when they rejected your pics. Any time they reject anything, they get to reset their clock and extend your wait. I have to wonder if it is cumulative? If they get to reset 60 days each time they reject something, I could be up to 180 days plus the original 60!

Well, you have to assume they had a valid reason for rejecting the photos in the first place, but they didn't - it was a random rejection. Beyond that, photos are NOT necessary to conduct background checks. I've gone through DOZENS of background checks for security clearances, and never once have they requested a photo of any description. The only thing the photo is used for is putting on the license itself. So resetting my receipt time because of rejected photos is bogus, if they did in fact do that.

ES4Me wrote:Hang in there...

I really have no choice but to. The part of this that angers me is that it's completely out of my hands, and there's NOTHING I can do to speed the process along. I absolutely hate the fact that I have no influence or control over a process that is so obviously broken that I'm surprised more people aren't downright indignant over the whole thing. There's absolutely no accountability on the part of the DPS. They can sit on their thumbs as long as they like and claim "we're waiting on the background check", and there's no way to check it out on our own, short of trying to coerce the truth out of their employees who don't really give a steaming pile of solidified bull methane about whether we ever get our license or not.

The head of steam I'm building up further pushes on my anger that I have to buy my 2nd amendment rights back from the state to begin with. Personally, I'd rather open-carry for all the world to see, negating the need for a CHL at all.

ES4Me wrote:Congrats to those of you who have had nice surprises in your mailbox or on the DPS website.

jsimmons and anyone else still hanging on from September.....we will all have to do a group Wally Walk together in celebration when we finally get out plastic! In defiance...which is the closest Wally World to the DPS processing offices???

Hubby got his plastic the other day and his was sent in weeks after mine.

I wasn't planning a Wally Walk. I'm too annoyed about this whole thing anyway. Asking about the status via email is pointless. Asking for help from your state representative is pointless. Expecting people to just do their jobs is pointless. Expecting governmental response in a timely fashion is pointless.

I was reading the CHL regulations regarding processing time, and these little nuggets in section 411.177:

(b) The department shall, not later than the 60th day after the date of receipt by the director's disgnee of the completed application material:
(1) Issue the license
(2) Notify the applicant in writing that the application was denied (and the reason for denial)
(3) Notify the applicant in writing that the department is unable to issue or deny (and the reason)
(c) Failure of the department to issue or deny a license for a period of more than 30 days after the department is required to act under Subsection (b) constitutes denial.

In other words, if you complain too loudly, they can just put your application in their "troublemaker" stack, and after day 90, they invoke subsection C - apparently without notifying you - at all. Not taxpayer friendly in the least.

At the very most, they aren't following subsection b3 where they have to tell you on the 60th day what the holdup is. They simply don't do that. You have to harangue them into a response.

Day #78 for me, and still no change in status...

ES4Me wrote:Pardon my rant, but this is just crazy. I know there are other folks out there who are waiting as well and I feel their pain. I am really trying hard not to be "this is all about me", but my gosh, anyone else have stupid DPS stories they would like to share?? Anything to help pass the time....and maybe give us a laugh??

You've been identified as a paperwork trouble-maker. Now that you've ended up on their list, it's going to literally take an act of congress to get your license.

I feel lucky compared to you because I've only received ONE letter. I'm hoping my status changes this week...

Day #74...

ES4Me wrote:Ok......am I the last hold out from September??

ROLL CALL!!

I'm still here - waiting...

Tha_Veteran wrote: Sounds like payback for not entering the arrest info.

But I *did* enter the arrest info. I think it's just that my app was on top of the stack when they said "Find something wrong with the next one".

Tha_Veteran wrote:JSsimmons what was wrong with the first pics?

They said the photos were "pixelated" (which they weren't). Funny how none of the other people in my CHL class had problems with their photos (taken with the same camera, background, lighting, and camera settings)...

You know what they do with the photos? They scan them into a digital format and reduce them in size so they can put them on your license (like they do for your driver's license). Anyone with any experience in computer imaging knows that any pixelation that might appear in the original image will be reduced/eliminated when said image is reduced.

My position is that the rejection was arbitrary.

ammo two wrote:jsimmons, I hear ya. Just getting a bit anxious as the 60 day mark approaches. Have you heard anything more on yours?

Kinda. I got this from my state rep's aide:

"The application was delayed because, on the application file you had failed to note a criminal history and there were discrepancies of some sort with the photographs submitted. A notice of delay concerning this was sent to you and according to the liaison the issues have been clarified sufficiently that a license will be issued. Because of these problems however the normal 60 day time frame has been extended. In this case they estimate your license will be issued in approximately two weeks."

0) I did NOT fail to note criminal history - I had two traffic-oriented arrests 30 and 25 years ago in California, and I put those on my application.

1) There was NO letter sent regarding a delay because of it.

2) New photos were sent back (via registered return receipt mail) the day after getting their letter claiming my picture was pixelated (which it WASN'T).

3) If they had started processing the application when they received it instead of waiting THREE WEEKS, it would have been done by now (and well within their own 60-day time frame, and even with the false pixelation claim).

I know, I sound like a broken record, but government processes annoy me to no end, especially when I already find anything else associated with the whole process absurd and unconstitutional.

If what the state rep's aide said is true, I should have at least an approval status by the week after Thanksgiving, but my whole point is that it shouldn't have taken this long.

81aggie wrote:Eugeniuss--congratulations!

ammo two--Hang in there. You're not far behind my timeline, I'm willing to bet you'll be complete soon.

I was *ahead* of your timeline, yet here I sit... :/

Day 61 - I called DPS, and the lady said, "We got your new photos, we're still waiting on one background check, and then it will be reviewed by a technician". I guess that means I have at least another 30 days before my status changes...

My opinion of their process is becoming "pixelated".

I could almost understand that if it didn't take them almost three weeks to start processing it. Besides the applicable Texas GC section doesn't say anything about delays due to arbitrary rejection of photos - it says 60 days - period. Besides that, the photos are only for scanning to put on the plastic itself, and should have no bearing at all on the progress of the background check.

I'm not saying that bad photos wouldn't have an impact - I'm saying they *shouldn't*. Beyond that, I was on that issue like white on rice and mailed back new photos the day after I received the rejection letter.

I had to wait until the mail came, but since I didn't get plastic today (60th day), I sent off a polite email to Henry Gonzales (my state rep) a few minutes ago.

I know - but it's only been 60 days. The way I have it figured is that I followed all of their rules, so they should be made to follow their rules, too. Honestly, I'm not concerned with their personnel issues. I'm almost $200 into this thing, and I want something tangible as a result, and within their own self-imposed time frame.

I hit day #60 tomorrow.

ammo two wrote:

jsimmons wrote:In two weeks, I can officially start complaining directly to DPS.

That will be the 60 day mark? And if I were you I'd do so as well.

The clock starts on the day they get the application. That means 11/17 is day 60 for me - despite having to re-shoot the photos.