[Mickstix]

Just venting.. Nothin serious But sittin here reading all the threads about people who've called and been told they are "in the system", one day then call back are told they "arent" the next, just seems like a big waist of time and resources!! I mean, it's nearly 2009!! We should be able to log onto a website and find out what stage our applications are in!! Or if there's been a problem and we need to resubmit something!! It would streamline the whole process and free up bodies at the D.oA. to actually work on the paperwork and issue the licenses!! I mean, the folks answering the phone and telling us if were in or not are reading it off a computer screen anyway? Unless there's some breach of security Im missing, it seems like it'd be a fairly easy task to implement, and help the turnaround time in the process?? Thoughts??

 

[steve66]

I am with you on this. I believe they have the system in place to check status of a license, but Concealed Weapons licenses are not included.


http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/contacts/faq.html#Q2

Information concerning concealed weapon license applicants and license holders is exempt from the disclosure provisions of the public records law and is not available online. If you are applying for a concealed weapon license, please call our Public Inquiry Section at (850) 245-5691.

If you have applied for a concealed weapon or firearm license, you can check the status of your application by calling our Public Inquiry Section at (850) 245-5691.

 

[capngeo]

Would YOU really want YOUR CC status displayed for ANYONE? Some liberal newspaper would have a full page list of all of us before you could say OOPS!

 

[NkmG19]

They could require certain personal info in order to get your application status. Last 4 of SS, DOB, address should be sufficient for privacy issues but allow you to get information on your status.

 

[SSS]

When applying for a Texas "CHL" here, the state's Department of Public Safety sends you a PIN as soon as your application has been scanned and entered into the computer. This, along with your personal info, allows the applicant to check the status of their application.

Would be nice if Florida did something similar.

 

[Papi]

"I agree with you in theory; however..."

...as inept as local and state institutions of gubment are, do you really trust that the private data of all 500,000+ of us in the State of Florida will be secured properly?

There have been too many instances of info being left unsecured and accessed by individuals outside the respective system (i.e. UF Dental school patient-specific info compromised a few months ago, VA patient info compromised more times than I can remember, etc.) to leave me with a warm and fuzzy regarding the government and their ability to adequately guard my personal data.

Considering the fact that the only times we have to wait for this is during the initial CWP issue, then every seven (7) years thereafter, I think I would rather suffer whilst waiting in the dark than offer up another opportunity for some pimply-faced 17-year old with a high-speed connection and nothing better to do to snag my personal info and "borrow" my identity (just for fun, I'm sure).:thumbsdwn

Just my $0.02.

 

[hawkins]

The technology does exist for this to be done safely- but government would likely screw it up- as someone who is also waiting my opinion best use of extra dollars might be more help to speed up process and keep up with the current flood of applicants.

oh well I am committed to not complain too much about the wait- at least committed to trying not to complain.

 

[steve66]

If they charged a nominal 5.00 fee for this online checking service for new license status, They would have make an extra $215,000 for the month of November 2008 assuming all 42,895 applicants applied. This can equate to a few million dollars a year and more time to process the applications instead of answering the phones, or, for hiring more help.

 

[hawkins]

If they charged a nominal 5.00 fee for this online checking service for new license status, They would have make an extra $215,000 for the month of November 2009 assuming all 42,895 applicants applied. This can equate to a few million dollars a year and more time to process the applications instead of answering the phones, or, for hiring more help.

That would get an extra $5 from me

 

[Mickstix]

That would get an extra $5 from me

Same here! I wouldnt mind at all attaching a small fee to it.. In response to the "Making it public", I'd hope they could implment some kind of password/pin/ss# type login so just anyone couldnt get the records.. Plus, there are already plenty of areas of the web to exploit if someone wants to steal an identity.. Online banking, paypal type services, just about anything you do online ya need to enter some form of info that could possibly be stolen.. But as far as someone knowing I have MY ccw (or have applied for MY ccw) and posting it for ALL to see.. I COULD REALLY CARE LESS.. :drinks

 

[OrlandoDriver]

Even in Texas they are going through thier changes i have read where some people have waited over 120 days even with the system using the pin to check thier status,as far as the $5.00 fee why not but think about it.I dont think its going to see things up your just going to pay $5.00 to have ease of mind?

 

[henryher]

If they charged a nominal 5.00 fee for this online checking service for new license status, They would have make an extra $215,000 for the month of November 2008 assuming all 42,895 applicants applied.

They don't get that many applications in one month. When I worked for the FL DEP the agency budget was a bit over $3 billion. DACS is many times larger than DEP and their budget is many times larger also. That amount of money in that agency doesn't buy you much.

As someone said, that information is protected from public records and it would be a nightmare for the agency to try and keep it safe. The money they would make on the $5 fee would not begin to cover the IT cost of keeping that information secure.

Second, like someone here said, I wouldn't want my information to be readily accessible to a HS kid with more brains than common sense to get to and misuse. Once the system is open to outside use it is vulnerable to hacking from the outside. Believe me the State computers have been hacked into several times when I worked for them.

The last thing is that I agree with what someone here posted. I know it is going to take all of the 90 days maybe a few more on top of that. If I have nothing to hide that might cause me a problem in getting the license I won't worry about it. Send the application and check on it after a couple of months then if you don't have it in 90 days call them again. Use certified return receipt mail with tracking so you know when they get it and go from there.

 

[steve66]

Even in Texas they are going through thier changes i have read where some people have waited over 120 days even with the system using the pin to check thier status,as far as the $5.00 fee why not but think about it.I dont think its going to see things up your just going to pay $5.00 to have ease of mind?

Its worth $5.00 for ease of mind. Something like the postal service tracking number would work. no personal information just the process that occured and date

ex.

09/01/08 received application
09/19/08 application funds deposited
09/30/08 Assigned to investigator
10/10/09 Prints cleared

...etc

 

[Mickstix]

The money they would make on the $5 fee would not begin to cover the IT cost of keeping that information secure.

They've already got the software and foundation in place. You can check on the status (And apply and renew) for a number of different licenses online already.. Im sure they already have staff on their payroll who setup and maintain those systems, so it wouldnt cost them anything to add the CCW section..