When to show license to LEO...

[Skipper5]

my credo/actions in past....if nothing else ....show your CHL always to any peace officer/magistrate (whether carrying or not) out of a mutual & professional courtesy/respect.

just my 2 cents...lol

[familyman]

I think it is a great opportunity to let the LEO know that you are one of the good guys, even if your not armed at the time. Even if your not being asked for I.D. under the best of circumstances.

I can only imagine the concern that a LEO has for his safety with every traffic stop.

I feel like being up front may be your best approach. The only question your going to hear at the time of presentation of your CHL from the LEO is "Are you armed now?". Same as it would be if you were armed and presented your CHL.

[retrieverman]

A few buddies and I go to some middle eastern / mediterranean hookah lounges around Dallas and the suburbs for some food and relaxation, and lately a few of these have been posting uniformed local LEOs at the door to ID people entering. I totally understand this as one of the main purposes of these places is to smoke hookah, and you cant sell tobacco to those under 18. If one of the LEOs asks for my ID in this situation is it "official business" and do I have to present my CHL as well?

I am unclear as to what a "hookah lounge" is. If it is a lounge/bar, wouldn't the 51% rule prohibit carrying anyway?

I ALWAYS show my CHL during EVERY traffic stop, but if it is legal to carry in these hookah lounges and the LEO is only checking for age violations, there is NO WAY that I would show my CHL.

[Xander]

I am unclear as to what a "hookah lounge" is. If it is a lounge/bar, wouldn't the 51% rule prohibit carrying anyway?

No...It's a tobacco-centric establishment. Since they tend to be owned and patronized by folks with Islamic backgrounds and persuasions, alcohol is often not even offered or allowed.

[retrieverman]

Xander

Thanks for clearing that up for me, and I will say definitively that I absolutely would not show my CHL to a LEO whose only job at the lounge is carding minors. In my opinion, if it is legal to carry in these lounges, I would feel know obligation to draw unnecessary attention to myself by showing my CHL.

[Xander]

Xander

Thanks for clearing that up for me, and I will say definitively that I absolutely would not show my CHL to a LEO whose only job at the lounge is carding minors. In my opinion, if it is legal to carry in these lounges, I would feel know obligation to draw unnecessary attention to myself by showing my CHL.

Then IMO, you'd be breaking the law and risk having your CHL suspended if the LEO saw you printing, or has any other reason to check you for weapons. The law doesn't differentiate between traffic stops, and any time a peace officer asks you for identification. The law says that if a peace officer asks you for identification, you must display your CHL, and it makes no exceptions, even if the peace officer is off-duty and checking id for a club.

If anyone knows differently please speak up, but at this point I simply don't see that option being a lawful one.

[retrieverman]

Xander

I am sorry that I expressed my opinion on this topic, and I in no way meant to get your drawers in a knot. Since I don't frequent such establishments that require "carding" this should never be a problem I will ever encounter, but I appreciate your opinion and will research this topic further. Until I find a definitive "legal" answer to the question at hand, my course of action would remain as stated.

[seamusTX]

Retrieverman, please review this topic from the top down. The law is absolutely clear:

GC §411.205. DISPLAYING LICENSE; PENALTY. (a) If a license holder is carrying a handgun on or about the license holder's person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that the license holder display identification, the license holder shall display both the license holder's driver's license or identification certificate issued by the department and the license holder's handgun license.

- Jim

[Xander]

Xander

I am sorry that I expressed my opinion on this topic, and I in no way meant to get your drawers in a knot.

Don't be! Our discussions would be boring if we all held the same opinions as each other. I assure you that no offense was taken by me regarding yours.

Since I don't frequent such establishments that require "carding" this should never be a problem I will ever encounter, but I appreciate your opinion and will research this topic further. Until I find a definitive "legal" answer to the question at hand, my course of action would remain as stated.

Here's the specific law at issue...I think it's fairly clear, but read into it what you will.

§ 411.205. DISPLAYING LICENSE; PENALTY. (a) If a
license holder is carrying a handgun on or about the license
holder's person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that
the license holder display identification, the license holder shall
display both the license holder's driver's license or
identification certificate issued by the department and the license
holder's handgun license. A person who fails or refuses to display
the license and identification as required by this subsection is
subject to suspension of the person's license as provided by
Section 411.187.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person fails or
refuses to display the license and identification as required by
Subsection (a) after previously having had the person's license
suspended for a violation of that subsection. An offense under this
subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.