TexasCHLforum.com

Really good information Steve....and it answers alot of questions folks have about why we hear so many differing explanations on this subject.

tamc9395 wrote:Perhaps it is time for a refresher for me. I thought you were REQUIRED to show your CHL if you were carrying and that it was not optional. That was the strange part for me. Otherwise the rest of it was KUDO's to the officer for a stopping me for an unintended infraction and being very professional.

Yes, the law requires you to show it...although there's no penalty for failure to do so...but, in many cases, common sense trumps strict interpretation of the law, and in your situation, I think that's what the officer did. He believed what you said, and took a "no harm , no foul" view of the circumstances and didn't make an issue of it. Props to him handling it in an intelligent and reasonable manner.

tamc9395 wrote: I handed him my DL and told him I had my CHL but it was buried in my wallet. Basically asked if i was carrying and where, I responded and we moved on. I never handed him my CHL, so I assume he already had it from my tags. Very courteous officer and we were all quickly about our day. The only thing I still find strange was that he never asked to see my CHL (which I found while he was writing up the warning).

I don't really see it as strange from his perspective...you told him you had a CHL but couldn't locate it. Why would anyone volunteer that info if they didn't have it...by telling him that, you have assured he's going to then ask if you are carrying, but regardless of whether you have it or not, you are allowed to carry in your car under the MPA anyway. He was satisfied that you were telling the truth and when you found it wasn't concerned about it enough to want to see it.