Texas DPS: Clarification Needed

[ur20v]

Maybe a little off topic, but just be aware that TX DPS is not the only LEA stalking, erm, patrolling the interstates. Mesquite nailed me fair and square late one night on 30, and Rockwall has seized quite a lot of money over the years thanks to civil asset forfeiture. In all honesty, DPS are few and far between. It's the local PDs and county sheriffs and constables you need to be aware of.

 

[mass-man]

I don't think we can glean enuf into from radio transmissions to determine where a radar unit might be setup?!?!?

Out west of the metroplex, the DPS units seem to call their dispatcher on the VHF frequency to report out at an incident, or ask for a 27 or some such stuff. The dispatcher has often responded on both the DPS VHF freq and the TG on the Parker County trunked system. Seems more often than not the DPS dispatcher calls the unit on the PCSO trunk system, and they respond on whatever.
YMMV that just seems to be the way it works out here where the west begins.....

 

[ur20v]

I don't think we can glean enuf into from radio transmissions to determine where a radar unit might be setup?!?!?

Out west of the metroplex, the DPS units seem to call their dispatcher on the VHF frequency to report out at an incident, or ask for a 27 or some such stuff. The dispatcher has often responded on both the DPS VHF freq and the TG on the Parker County trunked system. Seems more often than not the DPS dispatcher calls the unit on the PCSO trunk system, and they respond on whatever.
YMMV that just seems to be the way it works out here where the west begins.....

Sure you can... hear enough stops near certain mile markers or catch some car-to-car chatter and you can figure it out. Plus, most cops have their favorite speed trap spots. Make sure you have CB and GMRS channels in your scan lists - truckers and groups of people traveling together in separate vehicles will warn others.

 

[mass-man]

Should have been more specific...doubtful you will hear a DPS trooper setup a radar location if DPS is all you've got to listen to...scanning thru CB and GMRS and the 26 or so freq that should be the basis for mobile DPS scanning and there's a good chance you're not gonna hear the good stuff. Not impossible, but doubtful.

 

[hiegtx]

Should have been more specific...doubtful you will hear a DPS trooper setup a radar location if DPS is all you've got to listen to...scanning thru CB and GMRS and the 26 or so freq that should be the basis for mobile DPS scanning and there's a good chance you're not gonna hear the good stuff. Not impossible, but doubtful.

There are certain spots along I-20 in the Parker County vicinity that they work radar fairly often, but I have yet to hear them "setting up" at a specific location, only the occasional subject or vehicle checks.

Years ago, when Dallas PD operated a full blown "Traffic" division, you would hear then saying that they would be working radar, but they used numbers for the designated location, which did not include any address information. Nowadays, there's maybe a bare handful of accident investigators working at any one time, only handling fatality or serious injury accidents.

 

[CHHTX]

I've been seeing what appear to be new VHF antennas on DPS patrol cars recently.
I guess they're getting ready to go to the RGV if necessary.
Normally in the Harris County area they are on the TXWARN system, and MDTs.

I have to ask.....RGV? Rio Grande Valley comes to mind but that couldn't relate to Harris County.

And DPS, who all does that include? State troopers i think. Anyone else?

Thanks. Always learning

 

[mass-man]

Yep Rio Grande Valley...WAAAAY down there in the 4 southernmost counties!

DPS is indeed highway patrol, and that includes the security detail for the Gov! The hard part is that in the past few years the DPS troopers now can often be heard on a local sheriff or wide area trunked system as well!

 

[CHHTX]

Yep Rio Grande Valley...WAAAAY down there in the 4 southernmost counties!

DPS is indeed highway patrol, and that includes the security detail for the Gov! The hard part is that in the past few years the DPS troopers now can often be heard on a local sheriff or wide area trunked system as well!

ah, ok.....I think I get it. You're saying that they are setting up the cars to use VHF if they get called down to the RGV. (yeah, looking back, that's pretty much exactly what you said. lol...)

So in the RGV area, wouldnt they be switching over to the TXWarn equivalent (LRGVRRS) Lower RioGrande Valley Regional Radio System instead of jumping to VHF?

 

[Ensnared]

According to a professional radio technician who works with them, they have a CB inside the vehicle. I've talked to several. I don't what antenna they would be using. The DPS turds in Eastland County talked to me and damn sure talked back to them, not very nice. On many occasions, DPS is setup south of Hillcrest Hospital in Waco on IH35, southbound. I talked to them about an embarrassing event that happened in the state, which I cannot recall. I started laughing about it to them and they keyed the mike several times in response. This has happened on several occasions when I've attempted to make contact. Homeland Security put a lot of toys in their arsenal. God knows what they have.

 

[ttkoestner]

I've been scanning DPS frequencies for over a year and never a single transmission.

 

[IAmSixNine]

Its location dependent..
I heard DPS Dallas active on my way to work this morning.

 

[CHHTX]

I'm not certain who I'm hearing but its supposed to be TX DPS. I am hearing a lot of traffic in RGV (Hidalgo Co to be specific) on:

TG61023 851.175000 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS Weslaco 3 P25 Trunk
TG61037 853.175000 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS 61037 P25 Trunk Link
TG61021 853.675000 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS Weslaco 1 P25 Trunk Link
TG61022 853.387500 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS Weslaco 2 P25 Trunk Link

 

[ttkoestner]

I'm not certain who I'm hearing but its supposed to be TX DPS. I am hearing a lot of traffic in RGV (Hidalgo Co to be specific) on:

TG61023 851.175000 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS Weslaco 3 P25 Trunk
TG61037 853.175000 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS 61037 P25 Trunk Link
TG61021 853.675000 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS Weslaco 1 P25 Trunk Link
TG61022 853.387500 L-RGV Reg Radio Sys / Weslaco - Texas Department of Public Safety - DPS Weslaco 2 P25 Trunk Link

I'm about 10 miles north of Boerne. Although I am restricted to a indoor antenna, I am in a fairly high area, and take the scanner outdoors often.

 

[rattlerbb01]

I'm about 10 miles north of Boerne. Although I am restricted to a indoor antenna, I am in a fairly high area, and take the scanner outdoors often.

I don’t scan DPS when I’m home here in Boerne, but when I travel I hear 155.445 some when I’m down south of SA and I hear 159.0975 in New Braunfels when I head east for work.

 

[Ensnared]

When I was in the Houston area, I heard DPS on conventional quite well. In fact, I heard quite a bit of DPS traffic between Waco and Houston.

Old Dave finally recalled what I teased the local DPS about a while back. It was hilarious. I see that this has happened in another location as well. Typically, I see DPS south of Hillcrest hospital in Waco sitting 90 degrees to the interstate, south bound.

Texas Officials Accidentally Send Out Amber Alert For Chucky Doll

After reading this story, I asked them if they were amused by this story. I heard three microphone presses.

Generally speaking, when I drive by, I tell them I appreciate their service and watching out for us. I don't muck around with DPS or Texas Game Wardens. They don't play, LOL.

 

[LeePee43]

As a Ark-La-Tex log-hauler, I get "DoT'd" (inspected) about monthly by DPS in the Tahoe units. They have portable scales, but I've never seen an actual CB in them. They have you sit in the passenger side while they check your paperwork and hopefully print you a "NO VIOLATIONS DETECTED" receipt, which my company pays driver a $50 safety bonus for obtaining. I chatted with a Trooper just last week, who said that when he goes to do border-patrol duty, he chats with a trooper friend stationed in El Paso over the system down there...he got told to quit tying up every repeater on the system even tho it was like 2am...lol. He said that 3 gangs exchange full auto weapons fire directly across the Rio Grande each night. I guess a question would be, can their radios have a CB frequency (channel 19) programmed in?

 

[nd5y]

can their radios have a CB frequency (channel 19) programmed in?

No.

 

[LeePee43]

Then, those troopers musta brought their personal CB's to work with them that day..there isn't one in the console.

 

[txemt88]

I hear DPS here in Waco all the time. Of course, I am about 2 miles from their dispatch office. Even if I'm not scanning any lists with DPS programmed on them, I will hear them a couple of times every hour with Close Call. The most exciting (and probably the ONLY thing) they do over the air is run driver's license numbers and plates.

 

[txemt88]

No.

I've heard before that they monitor channel 19 to see who is speeding and whatnot, but I think this is a myth of old.

You'd think they'd monitor channel 9, but it's my understanding no one really does anymore.