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KBCraig wrote:I suspect that when DPS lays the blame on Harris County, they don't really mean the government of Harris County, but rather the DPS station in Harris County. That's who is actually doing the background checks.

When I talked to Simone at DPS-Austin, I asked if it was DPS personnel or Harris County personnel that was actually doing the BC's, and she said that she really doesn't know...I'm not sure if that would even make a difference. She just referred to the person(s) doing the BC's as "field agents". I agree...I would imagine that the field agents are in fact, DPS personnel. That and $3.50 might get you a cup of joe at Starbucks.

I decided to contact my state representative Debbie Riddle about the Harris County delay. Her chief of staff contacted me and told me that their office was working DPS over on a daily basis. I mentioned that DPS isn't the problem in this case. Harris County is being opportunistic in blaming Ike for their own short-comings. Since Rep. Riddle's district covers a part of Harris County, I asked them to please leverage some influence on the county. He said they would get back to me.

I also had a very nice conversation with Simone at DPS Austin. She said that half of the DPS CHL staff worked yesterday, even though it was a holiday. She said that the BC's from Harris County are just trickling in, and that they have always been somewhat slow, even before Ike. Just 2 blocks north and I could have lived in Montgomery County! Simone said that, as soon as they receive my BC from Harris County, my license is ready to issue.

nils wrote:I feel your pain and felt your frustration, but contacting someone in Harris County isn't the answer. I was told by my contact in Austin that Harris county will take their time, and contacting them directly may tick off the person who is handling your BC . Get a hold of someone in the DPS office in Austin, be very nice to them, and ask them kindly to keep you informed on your status. It worked for me, and they overnighted it ASAP. Good luck.

Nils, thanks for the advice. Austin DPS was closed today for Veteran's Day. I tried calling and got the recorder. I'll try it again tomorrow...will let you know if it works for me.

FlynJay wrote:I am a victim of the "Delayed by Ike" excuse. I am wondering, who in Harris and Galveston counties can I contact to see why the background checks are taking so long? Bugging DPS in austin is not going to solve anything because it is not their fault the BC is taking forever, it is just part of their process.

I did some probing of the Harris County Records Dept. by phone. When I explained what I was calling about, they were familiar with the process, but said that it's handled by the "Criminal Records Dept.". They transferred me to a lady that was helpful...to a point. First, she said that the DPS conducts their own county background checks. If everything checks-out OK initially, they don't contact the criminal records group. Only when they have a question or a blip, the DPS tells the applicant to retrieve a background check from the Harris County Criminal Records Dept. I don't know if that is correct or not. Something is missing. Austin tells me that they are waiting on Harris County, but the "only" Harris County dept that handles criminal background checks doesn't have record of a BC request from DPS. I'm not sure I understand the process any more now than before I started. Now what?

I guess I just need to leave it alone and wait.

FlynJay wrote:I am a victim of the "Delayed by Ike" excuse. I am wondering, who in Harris and Galveston counties can I contact to see why the background checks are taking so long? Bugging DPS in austin is not going to solve anything because it is not their fault the BC is taking forever, it is just part of their process.

I contacted DPS in Austin last week, and they stated that they were waiting on Harris County to respond with my BC. I asked if there is anything I can do to effect the slow response, and they said no, not that they know of. I plan on contacting the personal records dept. to see if I can get anywhere. I did contact my state rep and Gov. Perry, but I haven't heard anything in return yet. I hope it works. I haven't been waiting as long as some of you, but I'm having a hard time understanding what is taking Harris County so long to run my name through the county database. It's not a real involved process, as I understand it. At least sharing my frustration with y'all gives me a vent.