Electronic Fingerprinting…effective March 1st

[Justin Franklin]

Hello All,

I am throwing this out there to get some ideas for DPS. I'm going to hold back my personal opinions for now and would like to see what everyone else has to say.

As most of you know, DPS is not going to accept rolled fingerprints after March 1st. All original applicants must submit their application, make an appointment at an L-1 location and then go to the L-1 location to have their fingerprints taken. I believe the cost at the L-1 location is $10. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand you cannot go without an appointment!

What can be done for those who can't make it during work week and the closest L-1 locations are not open on the weekend?

What can be done for the people who don't live close to an L-1 location and don't have the means for travel? Texas is a big state and I'm quite certain there are places where people will have to travel 90 miles or so to get to an L-1 location. 90 miles one way on a lunch break?

What can be done to get L-1 to allow more businesses to offer this service? FYI…I'm aware of a couple businesses that wanted to offer the electronic fingerprinting and L-1 turned them down because they already had another location within 20 miles or so. I'm not sure of the exact criteria, but it was something like that.

[WhiteLightning]

I always have mine done at the sheriff's office.

[sjfcontrol]

I always have mine done at the sheriff's office.

That won't be acceptable starting next month.

[thankGod]

Is an L-1 location a police station? What is it specifically?

It does seem that putting an extra step into the process does pose an inconvenience.

[Crossfire]

L-1 is a business. Not affiliated with law enforcement, at all. Just a business.

A business that happened to secure an exclusive contract with DPS so that no one else can submit fingerprints for CHL purposes after March 1.

[RAM4171]

I wonder what DPS has to gain from this being that L-1 is not the only e-fingerprinting business
I had mine done a place in Garland next door to Handgun Academy.

[sjfcontrol]

I wonder what DPS has to gain from this being that L-1 is not the only e-fingerprinting business
I had mine done a place in Garland next door to Handgun Academy.

That would be -- Texas Handgun Academy -- they do electronic FP, but can't do the digital transfer, as they are not an L1 location.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I wonder what DPS has to gain from this being that L-1 is not the only e-fingerprinting business
I had mine done a place in Garland next door to Handgun Academy.

It's not DPS, it's a contract with the State.

Chas.

[Greybeard]

A prime example of what happens when government is allowed to get away with making all the rules, regardless of input from the people.

[philip964]

Electronic fingerprints are great. I just wish they would have just said electronic fingerprints only, when I originally applied. Its much better than waiting two months and then telling you the ones you sent are no good. That is even though they were made by a sheriff and you looked at them with your official Boy Scout Fingerprinting Merit Badge from fifty years ago in hand, and judged they were perfect, before you sent them in.

Now what would be nice is that they share with other Texas Departments, so once you have it done, those are your official Texas finger prints. And you don't have to pay an even fancier outfit, who charges a lot more than $10, and won't even allow for a same day appointment to get fingerprinted again and again.

Those of you who are like me and like to collect Licenses like other people like to collect guns, will understand this.

Maybe they could even share background checks, so those don't have to be duplicated every two years.

Course what I am talking about would be a big brother database, which is no good either.

BTW how do they ever catch anyone with finger prints accidentally left at a crime scene, if they cant read the ones that were done with ink, pressure, smooth cardstock and rolling your finger like your making bread.

[sjfcontrol]

So, are the L-1 fingerprints guaranteed? In other words, if DPS rejects them, do you have to pay again? Apparently you WOULD have to make another appointment, and have them retaken -- just wondering if they would charge you for it.

[snorri]

Going to only accepting L-1 is going to be especially hard on nonresidents who want a Texas CHL. Especially when many L-1 locations are not open for weekends and holidays.

[Oldgringo]

Electronic fingerprints are great. I just wish they would have just said electronic fingerprints only, when I originally applied. Its much better than waiting two months and then telling you the ones you sent are no good.....

AGREED!

Mrs. Oldgringo submitted three (3) sets of prints that were rejected before her fourth (4) set of electronic prints were finally accepted. Her fourth fingerprint submission was accompanied by written letters to the Gov., Lt. Gov., State Senator and DPS, etc.

Finally, after 160 days, she got her plastic. Was it the letters or was it the electronic fingerprints that got her CHL released. I dunno'...

[Crossfire]

So, are the L-1 fingerprints guaranteed? In other words, if DPS rejects them, do you have to pay again? Apparently you WOULD have to make another appointment, and have them retaken -- just wondering if they would charge you for it.

You don't have to pay again, but you have to go back to the same location that printed you the first time.

[Justin Franklin]

I wonder what DPS has to gain from this being that L-1 is not the only e-fingerprinting business
I had mine done a place in Garland next door to Handgun Academy.

As it was explained to me, L-1 Identity Solutions was the only company that was able to meet the state's requirements for data security. There were a couple other reasons why they chose L-1, but I can't remember them right now.

I appreciate all the comments, but I was hoping to get some possible solutions for the issues I originally posted. Here they are again…

1. What can be done for those who can't make it during work week and the closest L-1 locations are not open on the weekend?

2. What can be done for the people who don't live close to an L-1 location and don't have the means for travel? Texas is a big state and I'm quite certain there are places where people will have to travel 90 miles or so to get to an L-1 location.

3. What can be done to get L-1 to allow more businesses to offer this service? FYI…I'm aware of a couple businesses that wanted to offer the electronic fingerprinting and L-1 turned them down because they already had another location within 20 miles or so. I'm not sure of the exact criteria, but it was something like that.