New Update for Instructors DPS website

[infoman]

Starting March 1, 2011 DPS will no longer except ink rolled fingerprint cards, all applicants will HAVE to get their prints taken via L1 solutions/FAST. They put this in the latest newsletter for instructors. Here's a link to the new newsletter on the DPS website: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administra ... er1010.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Justin Franklin]

I knew this was coming. I have two thoughts on this matter….

1. This will allow for more instruction time and decrease workload on the instructors. DPS will benefit from the efficiency and faster returns on fingerprints.

2. I think we will see a decrease in the number of people getting their CHL. Most of us instructors offer an "all inclusive" or "one stop shop" for the students. If the students now have to navigate through another website, make an appointment, take time off from work, skip lunch, hassle with the children or whatever to get their fingerprints done, then I think many people will just not bother with it.

Here lately it seems many of my "new" students have been wanting to get their CHL for a while, but kept putting it off. Making the process more difficult or time consuming for the applicant will most likely have a negative impact on the number of applicants. That being said, I hope my prediction is wrong! I will do my part to keep the applicants informed and make the transition as seamless as possible.

On another note, what are your reject rates on rolled fingerprints? Out the hundreds I have done, I only know of two that were kicked back.

[KC5AV]

There has been mention of requiring all FAST L1 locations to do prints for CHL. Not all do at this point in time. If you live in the Pineywoods region of East Texas, your only option is to drive to Tyler. I live in Marshall, and work in Longview. There is a FAST location less than a mile from my work place, but they don't do prints for CHL. I certainly hope that all locations will have to offer this service. Otherwise, this is going to be a major hassle for a lot of people.

[Charles L. Cotton]

There has been mention of requiring all FAST L1 locations to do prints for CHL. Not all do at this point in time. If you live in the Pineywoods region of East Texas, your only option is to drive to Tyler. I live in Marshall, and work in Longview. There is a FAST location less than a mile from my work place, but they don't do prints for CHL. I certainly hope that all locations will have to offer this service. Otherwise, this is going to be a major hassle for a lot of people.

If anyone knows of an L-1 location that isn't doing CHL prints, please get the address and any other identifying information for the franchise. Every L-1 location is required to do CHL prints.

Thanks,
Chas.

[randomoutburst]

That means that in the future I'll have to make a 2-hour drive down to Dallas and probably have to take off work to do so. Lovely.

I understand that they want to streamline things, but it's incredibly inconvenient for applicants who don't live close to one of the L-1 locations. They need to expand their network if they're doing away with rolled ink prints.

If you have to take off work and lose money on a paycheck just to go get your fingerprints scanned, you can bet many people will be putting it off. Guess that means I need to start my CHL renewal process a year in advance just to make sure I can get everything done and sent off before I have a gap in my CHL coverage.

[Charles L. Cotton]

That means that in the future I'll have to make a 2-hour drive down to Dallas and probably have to take off work to do so. Lovely.

I understand that they want to streamline things, but it's incredibly inconvenient for applicants who don't live close to one of the L-1 locations. They need to expand their network if they're doing away with rolled ink prints.

If you have to take off work and lose money on a paycheck just to go get your fingerprints scanned, you can bet many people will be putting it off. Guess that means I need to start my CHL renewal process a year in advance just to make sure I can get everything done and sent off before I have a gap in my CHL coverage.

Renewals no longer have to submit fingerprints or photos.

Chas.

[randomoutburst]

That means that in the future I'll have to make a 2-hour drive down to Dallas and probably have to take off work to do so. Lovely.

I understand that they want to streamline things, but it's incredibly inconvenient for applicants who don't live close to one of the L-1 locations. They need to expand their network if they're doing away with rolled ink prints.

If you have to take off work and lose money on a paycheck just to go get your fingerprints scanned, you can bet many people will be putting it off. Guess that means I need to start my CHL renewal process a year in advance just to make sure I can get everything done and sent off before I have a gap in my CHL coverage.

Renewals no longer have to submit fingerprints or photos.

Chas.

In that case, yay for me. Still a hassle for new applicants though.

[longtooth]

THey are continuing to expand. When I was in Instructor school middle of June the one in Lufkin did not do CHL prints. Shortly after I got back they added that feature.

They are continuing to expand locations & I know of no location now that is open that does not do CHL prints.

The one issue I find a problem for some is hrs open. Lufkin is only open Fri & Sat. either 8-5 or 9-5.

[Justin Franklin]

Is it too late for DPS to rethink this? Maybe they could offer an incentive, discounted app fee, for those who go to an L1. On the flip side, maybe they could charge an extra $10 or $15 for those who still want submit rolled prints.

I'm all for streamlining and making the process easier for all.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Is it too late for DPS to rethink this? Maybe they could offer an incentive, discounted app fee, for those who go to an L1. On the flip side, maybe they could charge an extra $10 or $15 for those who still want submit rolled prints.

I'm all for streamlining and making the process easier for all.

While DPS can always change their policy, I don't see that happening. We had very good discussions about the logistical problems for people living in sparsely populated areas and the DPS has a plan to deal with that situation. I don't have permission to disclose that now, but if their proposed fix is implemented it should help ease the burden.

Another factor concerning rolled prints is the FBI's workload due to the Real ID Act. They are utterly swamped with non-criminal background checks and it's rumored that at some point they will accept only digital fingerprints, at least for non-criminal checks. DPS has to take rolled prints and scan them so they can electronically transmit them to the FBI. This not only takes a lot of time, scanning rolled prints often results in a very poor image; somewhat like 2nd 3rd generation faxes. Since we are approaching 450,000 CHL's, the additional workload caused by using rolled prints is simply not sustainable, if we are to have reasonable processing times. DPS was able to stop requiring fingerprints on renewals both because the FBI approved resubmission of digitized prints and because DPS was getting good quality digital prints from L-1.

Everyone including the DPS acknowledges that requiring digital prints creates some problems for some people and those problems must be addressed. However, the benefits are undeniable and I believe the tremendous improvements DPS has made in the entire CHL system proves the people in that division are dedicated to make the system work better for everyone.

Chas.

[longtooth]

I will say & especially w/ the fact that DPS is working to improve. A yr ago folks here had to drive 100 miles to get to houston or Tyler for Fast Prints. Now we have them in Lufkin. I am seeing the folks in my classes that do electronic prints ghet their License 3-5 weeks faster than the ones who have asked me to roll them.

I have copied the DPS statement that March 1 they will require only electronic. I will read it to my folks & my print kit is staying at the house.

Having to scan the ink prints is another reason for them being rejected & being slower.
Thanks to Charles for his work & Thanks to DPS for helping us.
LT

[garcia946]

How does one fund the nearset location for Fast? Like to get ahold of them so i know for my students.

[longtooth]

WEbsite

http://www.ibtfingerprint.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Justin Franklin]

Second attempt to reply (much shorter this time)….login timed out the first time.

Thanks for the reply Chas. I understand the logistics and I never doubted DPS's commitment to making things easier on all, I just don't see how this is easier for new applicants.

However, if this new system will put the plastic in the mail 3 to 5 weeks faster like LT is seeing, then I can definitely see the benefit and how we can portray the benefits to our students. The average wait time I am hearing about these days is 4 to 6 weeks. So does that mean the students could expect a new average of only 1 to 3 weeks?

The new online application is great and has made things much easier on the instructors. Anything we can do to get more CHL holders and shooters will be a win for all. In this day and age we need all the supporters of our Second Amendment Rights that we can get.



Garcia…..use this link…..got it from the DPS website.

http://www.ibtfingerprint.com/locations/?st=tx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[garcia946]

Thanks LT & Justin , I found it