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Great insight and advice. Well put, Steve.

Thanks,

Absolutely not. I figured that question would come up, which is why I said that I was the DD. He initially asked how much I had had to drink (standard first question at a bar setting, I assume) and I said, "none." He believed me because, the issue of me possibly having drank any alcohol never came up again. If I think I might want a drink; my gun stays at home.

I hold contempt for the few TABC officers I have come into contact with, but I don't want to generalize the entire field. I assume there are some good ones and some bads ones, but the only ones I have had dealings with were extremely rude, arrogant, and seemed to be on a power trip.

I was at a bar (obviously a 51%) with a buddy a few weeks ago. I'm was the DD and he was having a pretty good time. My CH was in my truck in the door panel, which was parked in the parking lot. When we decided to leave, we found we were blocked in by another truck and my buddy kicked the other truck's tire out of frustration. It was reported to two TABC officers in the bar that my buddy damaged the truck. They came out to talk with us, but could find no damage. However, when the officer knocked on the window, I opened the door; put my hands up and told him, "I have a CHL." He asked if I was armed and I showed him where it was on the door. He disarmed me and finished his investigation. I have no problem with anything up to this point. After 30 minutes of investigation, he told me that he could take ME to jail for concealing at a 51%, and asked me if I knew what that was in a very insulting fashion (I think I know the law about my own CHL). I told him that I NEVER took the gun inside the bar and that it was in the truck until he removed it. He "informed" me that the parking lot was considered part of the bar and having a CH in the parking lot was the same as taking it in the bar. I was not from around there and there was definitely a "Good Ol' Boy" feel to the shake-down so instead of arguing I tried to explain that while ignorance is no defense, I had no idea the parking lot was considered as such. He let me go and I was ready to get out of there, but first I drove to every entrance to verify that there were no 30.06 sign anywhere. Please correct me, but I don't think I did anything wrong.
My question: Was I wrong, and what do I do now?
Was I at fault and he was lenient?
Let it go...No Harm, No Foul?
Notify the area TABC office that they have an officer who is mistaken about handgun laws so that it doesn't happen to someone else?
File a grievance?

Thanks for the input.