Florida CWL: Dual resident, which address?

[RumMonkey]

Hi,

I am about to apply for a Florida cWL. I live in both Florida and Texas about equally, but I do have a Texas driver's license and my vehicle is registered in Texas as well. I'm planning on using the license to carry in Florida and Texas.

What address should I put on my Florida CWL? I'm thinking about putting my Florida address on the card even though my Texas driver's license has my Texas address. Later on I might go ahead and get a part-time Florida driver's license which will allow me to keep my Texas driver's license. I don't want to lose my Texas driver's license since I like being able to buy guns in Texas.

When it comes to states which only accept resident Florida licenses, such as Colorado and Kansas, I wonder if I would be considered a Florida resident with my Florida address and the part-time Florida driver's license, although the driver's license is for Florida only and I would have to use my Texas driver's license to drive on. If not, I wonder what else I would need to establish Florida residency, short of turning in my Texas driver's license for a full-time Florida one. Not really planning on visiting those states anytime soon though, much less run into the police there.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

i think its cheaper for the renewal if you are a resident, and you don't have to re-submit fingerprints, so i'd use the FL address.

per packing.org:

Renewal: $65 for Residents (no fingerprints required for renewal)
$107 for Non-Residents (fingerprints required again at renewal)

 

[wdlsguy]

I do have a Texas driver's license and my vehicle is registered in Texas as well.

My vote is to use your Texas address, then.

 

[RumMonkey]

Elaboration?

 

[wdlsguy]

If your DL, CHL and registration all say Texas (or Florida) everything is going to look in order if you are pulled over. If your DL and CHL don't match, the officer might start asking questions. Do you really want to get into a discussion with an officer about your dual residency on the side of a road?

 

[RumMonkey]

Yeah, but the Texas DL and the Florida CWL aren't going to match anyway except for the address. My understanding is that there is no Texas law that requires a Texas DL holder to carry on a Texas CHL, but I don't expect every cop to know that. So the flip side of that is he's going to get into a discussion with me as to why I have a Florida CWL with a Texas address on it.

I'm trying to determine if it would be safer to just put my Florida address on the card, even though it's not on my driver's license, instead of having to explain why I have a Florida CWL with a Texas address.

 

[ceetee]

Showing a CWL with a Florida address would indicate Florida residency. If you move to Florida, you have 30 days to change your DL over to a Florida license. If you are a Florida resident, driving on an out-of-state license, I believe you can be charged with a misdemeanor. That might color your thought process some...

 

[TonyStarks]

The best way to get an accurate answer is to write to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer services.
Here is the link, i had some questions when i got my License and they replied in 30 minutes.
http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/LicWebAskGeneral.exe?Type=A

 

[Chad]

RumMonkey:
You definitely need to do some research, here's a few ideas to start with...
(I haven't done any research, this is just off the top of my head)

If you have a Texas DL, then I believe the only resident permit you can get is a Texas permit. Your DL pretty much defines what your legal state of residence is.
I've never heard of a 'part time' DL, except in military circumstances.
To establish residency in Florida, I believe you'd have to give up your Texas DL.

My point is I don't think you can get a Florida resident permit.
You can get a non-resident Florida permit, of course. Not sure why you would bother if you get your Texas permit, since each recognizes the other's.

 

[JerryM]

I don't think you can be a resident of two states, but I may be wrong. The few instances that I am aware of indicated that the state in which you vote is your residence.
Use your TX address if that is where you vote. No reason to make thinks look suspicious.
Best,
Jerry

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

Chad wrote:

If you have a Texas DL, then I believe the only resident permit you can get is a Texas permit.

that's not true. i know of lots of people who have Florida CWP's who carry lawfully as Texas residents in Texas. they do so because they don't have to take a state mandated class, don't have to notify anyone when they move, don't have a "gun permit" flag on their vehicle registration or driver license, and it is initially issued for 5 years vs. 4 years for Texas.

the downside is that it does not exempt you from the NICS check when you buy a firearm in Texas, but if you're a "proceed" every time, and NICS is up (not always 100% working, believe me, it happens at gun shows sometimes) then you should be okay.

but yeah, most Texans prefer the Texas CHL vs. the Florida CWP.

 

[RumMonkey]

If you are a Florida resident, driving on an out-of-state license, I believe you can be charged with a misdemeanor.

ceetee and Chad, there is a such thing as a Florida part-time driver's license, meant for people who stay in Florida for extended periods of time. I'm going to get a part-time Florida driver's license the next time I'm in Florida so this concern is a non-issue. I do not have to give up my Texas DL in order to get a part-time Florida DL.

Spreadfire, I think what Chad meant is that he does not think you can get a resident permit from X state by being a resident of Texas. You can get a non-resident permit from X state and carry in Texas as long as Texas recognizes it, no problem. I can get a Texas CHL no problem, but for the reasons you stated I have chosen not to.

I'm in a sort of a grey area. My concern is with Texas police. It's perfectly legal for me to carry in Texas with a Florida non-resident license, but I don't expect all of the police to know that. I'm just wondering if it'll take the edge off of an uninformed officer if I have my Florida address on the CWL.

Of course I'll probably never have a run-in with the police.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

You can get a non-resident permit from X state and carry in Texas as long as Texas recognizes it, no problem.

Are you sure of that? If so, Texas is different than Georgia (which is of course certainly possible).

If you are a GA resident, you have to have a GA firearm's licence to carry concealed. A non-resident Florida permit will not allow a GA resident to carry concealed in GA.

 

[RumMonkey]

Yes, I'm sure of that.

 

[Chad]

It certainly is a gray area...glad I don't have to figure it out.

I wasn't aware of the part-time DL...makes sense I guess. I know a lot of folks who spend close to 6 months in Florida every year.

One thing it doesn't seem a lot of folks realize is that some states, even with reciprocity, don't recognize non-resident permits from other states.
For example, you're a Texas resident with a Utah non-resident permit...your permit isn't valid in Florida or Colorado(2 I know of...I believe there are more.)

I don't think that pertains to your situation but I mention it anyway.

 

[ceetee]

Huh. I've never heard of this before... It used to be that you had to surrender your current DL before you could get a FL-issued one.

Part-time Resident

Part-time residents may elect to retain their valid out-of-state license and receive a Florida license which states "Valid in Florida Only."

Source.