Keith from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, thank you for this column. It’s very informational and definitely what this area needs. Officer Antoine, every time my wife goes to pick up our daughter from daycare, she always parks in the “no parking” zone, but she leaves the flashers on because she plans to run in and out. She says she does it because she’ll be right back. I told her this is still illegal, but she doesn’t believe so. Officer Antoine, can you please help us?

Answer: Good question, Keith! The very reason why your wife turns on her hazard lamps is because she knows she’s doing something illegal. Keith, for some reason, people believe hazard lamps are the passageway to breaking the state of Texas laws, but hazard lamps don’t excuse willful transgressors of the law. If you make up your mind to park in a no-parking zone, please understand you are violating state law, and your hazard lamps don’t magically give you clearance to break any of the state parking laws.

JC from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, can an ex-felon own a firearm if he keeps it in his home for personal protection? I heard he can, five years post discharge of probation or parole.

Answer: Good question, JC: Yes JC, this is true according to the state of Texas laws, but federal laws are much more expansive in terms of prohibiting convicted felon persons from possessing firearms than Texas laws. Even though Texas law does not prohibit a convicted felon from possessing a firearm in his own home five years after discharge of sentencing, firearm possession by an ex-felon is still a federal violation and ex-felons are still subject to federal prosecution. Federal law says a person convicted of a felony grade crime can never be in possession of a firearm! One way for any person to be clear to own a firearm would be a presidential pardon, and they are very difficult to obtain. Texas law says yes, but federal law says no. So the decision is up to the individual, and I would recommend anyone to consult an attorney who specializes in such issues.

Yolanda from Nederland asks: Officer Antoine, I’m having a debate about using hand signals while operating a motor vehicle. I have a friend who has a defective tail light and he feels like he can continue to drive the vehicle on the road as long as he uses appropriate hand signals. Now as for me, I don’t believe this is true. I believe if the tail lights are not working, you cannot drive the car. Officer Antoine can you help us with this issue? Who’s right and who’s wrong?

Answer: Good question, Yolanda! This is a very interesting question because the state of Texas Transportation Code allows a driver of a motor vehicle to use their hand signal to give their intention to signal. But the catch to that is your signals on your vehicle must work properly in order for the vehicle to legally be on the roadway of Texas. To put it in perspective, yes you can use hand signals without the use of light signals, but you can not operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of Texas without functioning signals. So Yolanda, you are right, if the signal lamps aren’t working, you can not legally operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of Texas.

Join Officer Antoine for Ask A Cop Live, on KSAP 96.9 FM, “The Breeze” radio station, every Tuesday from 1-2 p.m. Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released Ask A Cop article that printed in The News. You can also tune in via internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at 409-982-0247.

 Remember to email your questions to Rickey.Antoine@portarthurtx.gov or call 409-983-8673 and leave a message or voice mail question, or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 Fourth St., Port Arthur, Texas 77640. If you happen to see me in public you can Ask A Cop!