If a magistrate or peace officer demands to see your driver's license, you must also produce your CHL if you are carrying a handgun at the time. "Carrying" means more than just having a handgun on your person. It includes having a handgun "on or about" your person. The cases on what "on or about" means are complicated. The best rule is to produce your TDL and your CHL if you have a handgun anywhere nearby, loaded or unloaded, locked up or not. Don't get in trouble over your interpretation of "on or about." It is not worth the expense and risk.
As of the date of this writing the statute involved reads as follows:
§ 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.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, § 10.01(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, § 9.17(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Question answered 1/17/04
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