CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

[spud]

I dont know man, They take a long time here due to being short staffed. Everytime anyone calls, the ladies are very nice. Alot of returns have happned recently, but that is due to slacking of the applicant (Me for one, forgot to sign something). I dont think it is a coverup to make me not have a gun or anything. Alot of us want our CHL, and Im betting that we outnumber the people in the CHL department 5:1.

Just my 2cents, not dogin on ya.

[spud]

I agree, they need more people, lower costs, and faster times.

But face it, its the goverment. I need a new car, more money and a model for a wife. But face it....

[seamusTX]

Here's bit of information that y'all might find interesting:

DPS budget (entire deparment):

• 2003 actual - $593 million
  2004 actual - 542
  2005 budgeted - 443
  2006-2007 requested - 1,112
  2006-2007 recommended - 847

The last two lines are for two-year periods, so the last one is 423 million per year.

In other words, over a five-year period, the DPS budget has been cut 29%.

That has to mean a lot of attrition to reduce personnel costs, and no money for new equipment.

What I can't find is how much DPS takes in in fees. It would be interesting to know whether they are a net revenue generator.

- Jim

[cjlandry]

Who should write and complain? Should I, who received his original license and each renewal license in a timely manner? Everything else is hearsay for me.

I got mine a whole lot faster than I expected, and everyone else I've personally spoken with has also gotten theirs within the alotted timeframe.

I certainly can't find any reason to complain.

Perhaps part of the reason so many of us got ours so quickly is because our CHL Instructor personally checked each packet to ensure that all was signed exactly where it was supposed to be signed. They also take the photos and prints on site before the class begins, and that's also a huge help.

Basically, our packets were ready to go when we left the CHL Training class, taught by Ranger Jim Peters (retired).

Nearly half of our class needed something corrected in our packets before we sent them off. Thankfully, Ranger Peters checked 'em for us and told us what we had done wrong.

[strongsteve]

I agree with theNYer. I have been waiting 75 days. That is not acceptable considering they have had my $140 since day one. I have been told that they are still waiting on the FBI for my clearance. [ABBREVIATED EXPLATIVE DELETED. Please read the mission statement, especially the "10 year old daughter rule!] why wasn't my prints sent to the FBI sooner? Also, I am told that the packets sit in a pile for 30 days even before processing starts. [ABBREVIATED EXPLATIVE DELETED]. ... that is absurd. I agree that I just don't think they care very much. I always get brief, generic responses to all my inquiries on the rare occasion that I get a response at all.

[HighVelocity]

Mine took a long time, and I complicated it even more by not signing one of the fingerprint cards.

Still, I did not send angry letters or call to complain. I believe the folks down in Austin are doing the best they can with what they've got. If your inclined to make a difference, maybe you could move to Austin and volunteer your free time to help out.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Processing times overall are unacceptable and, until very recently, I would have said DPS is violating the statutory time limits for both new and renewal applications. Unfortunately, they can take up to 90 days for first-time applications, depending on when DPS Austin sends it to the local designee. This will be addressed in 2007.

I believe the entire process may be addressed in the 2007 legislative session. There are some things that can be done both to help DPS process applications faster and to provide an incentive to do so.

I've been quite critical of DPS's processing times and I remain so. However, I now have every reason to believe it is the result of too few employees in that department, rather than an overt effort to slow the process.

Regards,
Chas.

[robert_de_niro]

I dont know man, They take a long time here due to being short staffed. Everytime anyone calls, the ladies are very nice. Alot of returns have happned recently, but that is due to slacking of the applicant (Me for one, forgot to sign something). I dont think it is a coverup to make me not have a gun or anything. Alot of us want our CHL, and Im betting that we outnumber the people in the CHL department 5:1.

Just my 2cents, not dogin on ya.

I called today to verify that I could indeed send a personal check (I don't know why they still say they don't accept them) and the woman seemed very impatient and rude...

[Kalrog]

Processing times overall are unacceptable and, until very recently, I would have said DPS is violating the statutory time limits for both new and renewal applications. Unfortunately, they can take up to 90 days for first-time applications, depending on when DPS Austin sends it to the local designee. This will be addressed in 2007.

There are those of us who went well beyond the 90 day limit as well though... so please don't give them a complete pass. It just might not be quite as large of a "legal" problem as it otherwise might have been.

And let me know if you need a deposition or other assistance in Austin for the '07 session. I could easily answer a subpoena for the state capital.

[txinvestigator]

I called today to verify that I could indeed send a personal check (I don't know why they still say they don't accept them) and the woman seemed very impatient and rude...

You called to ask, and they told you no? So are you going to send one?

[Charles L. Cotton]

Processing times overall are unacceptable and, until very recently, I would have said DPS is violating the statutory time limits for both new and renewal applications. Unfortunately, they can take up to 90 days for first-time applications, depending on when DPS Austin sends it to the local designee. This will be addressed in 2007.

There are those of us who went well beyond the 90 day limit as well though... so please don't give them a complete pass. It just might not be quite as large of a "legal" problem as it otherwise might have been.

And let me know if you need a deposition or other assistance in Austin for the '07 session. I could easily answer a subpoena for the state capital.

Rest assured it's not going to be ignored! The 90 day glitch will be addressed also.

Chas.

[AC]

I've been quite critical of DPS's processing times and I remain so. However, I now have every reason to believe it is the result of too few employees in that department, rather than an overt effort to slow the process.

Regards,
Chas.

I talked to a lady in the DPS office today at length about my application. She admitted they were waiting for me to send back fingerprint cards that weren't signed by the fingerprinter (allegedly) when in fact said fingerprint cards were never sent to me.
She said now they are waiting for my county to send back any arrest records and disposition, requested about 30 days ago. I called the county and they told me they usually respond the same day, in three days at most if they have to go to the archives. So I called her back and told her that the county said if DPS didn't receive the requested material, to re-request and they will get it right out. She said she will call them and ask for it again. Then she says it will be at least another 30 days. (To do whatever they do after everything is in order. She said the county is the only thing they are waiting on.)

It smells like fish in Austin.

[Commander]

However, I now have every reason to believe it is the result of too few employees in that department, rather than an overt effort to slow the process.

Charles, you are correct. Many years ago, the Legislature placed an employee cap on all state agencies. So the only employees the CHL section would have would be positions authorized by the original CHL bill (if it did that) For DPS to add additional employees to the CHL section they would have to either reduce employess in another section of the agency or appeal to the legislature for additional FTEs (Full Time Employees) and the legislature is very reluctant to grant such requests. I also saw another post that related how DPS budgets have been reduced over the years. For the upcoming budget years of FY2008 and FY2009, state agencies have been instructed to come up with projections on how they would operate under a 10% reduction of their budget allocations. So that can't help matters.

The entire "customer service" section; which includes Safety Responsibilty Suspensions, Driver Records, CHL etc. has been moved to an off-campus location in Austin. Its in an old warehouse on Dension just off Airport Blvd in Austin. A visitor to that location will encounter a sea of humanity there in person, not to even consider the telephone calls and mail that come in there.

I hand delivered my CHL renewal package there a few months ago. It was an absolute zoo.

[Commander]

See my post below

[Diode]

I called today to verify that I could indeed send a personal check (I don't know why they still say they don't accept them) and the woman seemed very impatient and rude...

You called to ask, and they told you no? So are you going to send one?

Actually the paper work says no but they do accept them now... I think that;s still true.