← Texas firearms laws›Duty to Inform Police
Texas Duty to Inform Police Laws (2026)
Conditional: Texas law does not require you to tell an officer you are armed.
Texas law does not require you to tell an officer you are armed. A License to Carry (LTC) holder who is carrying a handgun must show both a Texas driver license or ID certificate and the license when a peace officer or magistrate demands identification. That section sets no penalty. Without a license, no statute requires you to show or tell anything.
Official source: dps.texas.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Duty to Inform Police in states bordering Texas
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- ArkansasConditional
No duty to tell an officer unprompted. If you carry on an Arkansas concealed handgun license and an officer asks for your ID, you must show the license and tell the officer you hold it and have a handgun. Whether this binds out-of-state license holders is not stated, so treat it as applying. No such duty is stated for people carrying without a license.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: dps.arkansas.gov · Full Arkansas rule →
- LouisianaConditional
Yes. If an officer approaches you in an official manner or with an identified official purpose, a permit holder or permitless carrier must tell the officer they have a weapon on them, submit to a pat-down, and allow the officer to temporarily disarm them. A permit holder who fails to comply gets a six-month permit suspension. A permitless carrier faces a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both. In the French Quarter Management District the fine is $500 to $1,000.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: legis.la.gov · Full Louisiana rule →
- New MexicoConditional
New Mexico has no proactive duty to inform, but a licensee must have the concealed handgun license in possession at all times while carrying (NMSA § 29-19-9) and, under the Department of Public Safety (DPS) carry rule (10.8.2 NMAC, updated effective December 9, 2025), must display it when a peace officer demands it. New Mexico requires a license for concealed carry of a loaded firearm.
Verified Jul 18, 2026 · Source: dps.nm.gov · Full New Mexico rule →
- OklahomaConditional
Yes. If you carry on an out-of-state permit, tell any Oklahoma peace officer you contact that you are armed, without waiting to be asked. If you carry here on a permitless home state's law, tell any officer who instructs you to. All other carriers must say so when an officer demands it during an arrest, detention or routine traffic stop (citation up to $100). Keep a valid handgun license, military ID, driver license or state photo ID on you and show it on demand.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: oscn.net · Full Oklahoma rule →
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