TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFTEY
HISTORY:
YEAR HISTORY
1823 Texas Rangers organized to protect colonists.
1927 License and Weight Section created in Highway Department.
1929 Highway Patrol organized from License and Weight Section.
1935 Texas Department of Public Safety created, with Texas Rangers and Highway Patrol as it's nucleus.
1937 DPS given responsibility for driver licensing and narcotics enforcement.
1941 DPS assigned to maintain all vehicle accident records.
1951 Motor Vehicle Inspection Act passed.
1952 Safety Responsibility Act passed.
1957 DPS reorganized along regional lines.
1963 State Civil Defense program transferred to DPS by Governor.
1967 Data Processing Division created to file driver and criminal records electronically.
1968 Uniformed services placed under Traffic Law Enforcement Division. Criminal Law Enforcement Division created to coordinate criminal law enforcement matters.
1970 Organized Crime Unit formed in Criminal Intellegence Service.
1972 Motor Vehicle Theft Service formed in Criminal Enforcement Division.
1973 Support divisions placed under new Administrative Division.
1973 Texas Rangers celebrate 150th anniversary.
1985 Texas observes 150th anniversary.

ORGANIZATION:

    TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION:
  • Highway Patrol Service
  • Driver License Service
  • License and Weight Service
  • Motor Vehicle Inspection Service
  • Field support operations, including aircraft and communications
  • Safety Education Service
  • Breath Test Program

    CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DIVISION:
  • Narcotics Service
  • Special Crimes Service
  • Motor Vehicle Theft Service
  • Polygraph Service
  • Crime Laboratories

    TEXAS RANGER DIVISION:
  • Texas Rangers

    ADMINISTRATION DIVISION:
  • Division of Emergency Management
  • Data Processing
  • Crime Records
  • Driver and Vehicle Records
  • Staff Services
  • Inspection and Planning


IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Effective September 1st, 2003, the Traffic Law Enforcement Division (founded in 1968) changed to the new Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Division. The division, once made up of several services, now only has two (2) services--Highway Patrol (HP) and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE). The new HP Service incorporates the Highway Patrol service, the Capitol service, the Vehicle Inspection Service, and the Safety Education service. The former License and Weight Service is now known as Commercial Vehicle Enforcement.


New DPS officers are assigned to Trooper positions in the Highway Patrol, Driver's License, License and Weight, or Motor Vehicle Inspection Services.

Promotions to advanced Trooper ranks and Sergeant, and Criminal Law Enforcement Division positions are available to qualified Troopers. Troopers are also eligible, if qualified, to be considered for positions in the Administrative Division.

Commissioned members of the Texas Department of Public Safety have statewide authority as peace officers of the State of Texas.


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