Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety is the state law enforcement and regulatory agency of Texas, issuing driver licenses and IDs, regulating private security and firearms, operating forensic crime laboratories and statewide criminal justice information systems, and coordinating fugitive apprehension and emergency alerts for Texas residents and law enforcement agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1935
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Texas Department of Public Safety does
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the state law enforcement and regulatory agency of Texas, formally established in 1935 and tracing its institutional lineage to the Texas Rangers founded in 1823. The agency is headquartered in Austin at 5805 North Lamar Blvd and is organized into seven regional commands delivering services across all Texas counties. Its core functional areas include Driver License and ID Services (issuing licenses valid for up to eight years and ID cards valid for up to six years); Regulatory Services (handgun licensing under License to Carry, private security regulation, vehicle inspection certification, metals recycling registration, and the Compassionate-Use Program); the Crime Laboratory Division (forensic analysis of DNA, trace evidence, seized drugs, blood alcohol, firearms, toxicology, and digital/multimedia evidence); and Crime Records Services (criminal history checks, sex offender registry, fingerprinting, and FBI CJIS compliance auditing).
The agency's underlying technology stack includes statewide criminal justice systems such as TLETS (Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System), TDEx (Texas Data Exchange), the state CODIS DNA database, the AFIS fingerprint identification system, and a License Plate Reader program. It operates the Texas Fusion Center for intelligence coordination and the Texas Suspicious Activity Reporting Network (TxSARNet). Supporting channels include a statewide network of driver license offices and Mega Centers, online self-service portals, telephone and mail-in renewal, a mobile application, RSS feeds, and social media accounts.
DPS generates fee-based revenue through driver license issuance and renewal, commercial driver licenses, handgun licensing, private security and vehicle inspection certifications, criminal history background checks, and public information requests. As a state agency, it is also funded through legislative appropriations. Its customer base spans Texas residents (driver and firearm licensing), the 13,000+ law enforcement agencies participating in the LESO Program, employers and licensing agencies requiring criminal history checks, regulated businesses, and federal/state partners such as the FBI, TxDOT, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Texas Department of Public Safety firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Legal name
- Texas Department of Public Safety
- Website
- https://dps.texas.gov
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1935
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- The Texas Department of Public Safety is the state law enforcement and regulatory agency of Texas, issuing driver licenses and IDs, regulating private security and firearms, operating forensic crime laboratories and statewide criminal justice information systems, and coordinating fugitive apprehension and emergency alerts for Texas residents and law enforcement agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Texas Department of Public Safety industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Safety / State Law Enforcement Services
- NAICS
- Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Police Protection (922120), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Traffic Enforcement & Road Safety (Highway Patrol, DUI, Collision Investigation) (BPAIAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO), Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) & Driver Screening (BPACALAG)
Keywords
Where Texas Department of Public Safety is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Texas Department of Public Safety business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Driver License and ID Fees: Revenue from issuing driver licenses valid for up to eight years and identification cards valid for up to six years to Texas residents. Fees apply to original issuance, renewal, replacement, and duplicate documents.
- Commercial Driver License (CDL) Fees: Fees for commercial driver license issuance, renewal, and testing with additional requirements beyond standard licenses.
- Handgun Licensing (LTC) Fees: Revenue from licensing individuals to carry handguns within Texas, including application fees, renewal fees, and instructor certification fees under Texas Government Code Chapter 411, Subchapter H.
- Private Security Regulatory Fees: Revenue from regulating the private security profession including fingerprint-based background checks, license fees, and disciplinary action fees.
- Vehicle Inspection Program Fees: Revenue from licensing official vehicle inspection stations and inspectors throughout the state.
- Texas Metals Program Registration: Revenue from registering and regulating Metal Recycling Entities (MREs) in Texas including business licenses and compliance oversight.
- Criminal History Background Check Fees: Fees for criminal history conviction name searches, fingerprinting services, and rapback services for employment and licensing purposes.
- Sex Offender Registry Access: Public access to sex offender registry information maintained by DPS.
- Public Information Act Request Fees: Charges for copies of public information as set by the Office of the Attorney General for fulfilling Texas Public Information Act requests.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Driver License - Regular (Class C, M, CM) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Commercial Driver License (CDL) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Identification Card |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | License to Carry (LTC) Handgun |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Driving Record Request |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Criminal History Record Check |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Public Information Request |
| Licensing/ royalties | Annual | Private Security Licenses |
| Licensing/ royalties | Annual | Vehicle Inspection Station Certification |
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels9 records
Texas Department of Public Safety product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a state law enforcement and regulatory agency that issues driver licenses and identification cards, administers handgun licensing (License to Carry), operates the state's crime laboratory for forensic analysis including the CODIS DNA database, manages criminal history records and the sex offender registry, regulates private security, vehicle inspection stations, and metals recycling entities, and coordinates statewide emergency alert and fugitive apprehension programs.
Product overview
Texas Department of Public Safety is a law enforcement and regulatory agency offering a broad portfolio of public safety services organized into distinct divisions. The core offerings include Driver License & ID Services (issuing and managing driver licenses and identification cards), the Regulatory Services Division (handgun licensing/LTC, private security regulation, vehicle inspection, metals program), the Crime Laboratory Division (forensic analysis and CODIS DNA database), and Crime Records Services (criminal history records, sex offender registry, CJIS security). Supporting programs include the Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive program, statewide alert systems (AMBER, Silver, Blue, CLEAR), Texas DPS Mobile App, and the Texas Fusion Center intelligence hub. The agency operates through seven regional commands serving all Texas counties.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Driver License & ID Services
Companies that use Texas Department of Public Safety
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Texas Department of Public Safety technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Texas Department of Public Safety partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Texas Crime StopperscoreFunded by the Governor's Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers partners with DPS to offer cash rewards (up to $3,000-$7,500) for anonymous tips leading to arrests of Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitives, Sex Offenders, and Criminal Illegal Immigrants. In 2026, $61,500 in rewards have been paid for tips yielding arrests.
- U.S. Marshals ServicecoreMulti-agency collaboration on fugitive apprehension operations. U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Oklahoma Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force and Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force work with DPS on locating and capturing dangerous fugitives across state lines.
- Oklahoma Highway PatrolcoreState law enforcement partnership providing tactical assistance for multi-state fugitive apprehension operations. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Tactical Team provided support for the capture of Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitive James Lee Kirby.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP)majorFederal partner in multi-agency fugitive task force operations spanning state and national boundaries for border security and law enforcement coordination.
- Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI)majorState-level law enforcement collaboration on criminal investigations and fugitive apprehension across Oklahoma and Texas.
- Texas Department of TransportationcoreState Network partner for disseminating qualifying missing person and public safety advisories through the statewide alert system. Coordinates on transportation-related emergency notifications.
- National Weather ServicecoreState Network partner for weather-related emergency alerts and coordination on disaster response and public safety notifications.
- National Center for Missing and Exploited ChildrencoreNonprofit partner supporting AMBER Alert program and missing children cases through national coordination and resources.
- Texas Lottery CommissionminorState Network partner for alert dissemination through lottery retail locations across Texas.
- Independent Bankers Association of TexasminorState Network partner for financial sector alert distribution, particularly for CLEAR Alerts regarding criminals and criminal activity.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)coreNational criminal justice partner receiving statewide criminal justice data and participating in CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). DPS forwards compiled statewide databases to FBI national databases and receives national data in return.
- Over 13,000 Law Enforcement Agencies (LESO Program)coreDPS assists qualifying law enforcement agencies with applying for and receiving excess U.S. Department of Defense property through the LESO Program for counterdrug/counterterrorism and daily law enforcement missions at no cost to the LEAs.
- Texas Media OutletscoreState Network partner for rapid public notification of urgent public safety situations through broadcast and digital media channels.
- Texas Fusion Center (TxFC)coreDPS operates the Texas Fusion Center for suspicious activity reporting and intelligence coordination. Contact: (866) 786-5972 or [email protected]. Privacy policy available for reporting.
- Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS)coreStatewide criminal justice telecommunications system enabling law enforcement agencies to access critical information and coordinate operations.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Texas Department of Public Safety competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- California Highway Patrol: California's statewide law enforcement agency operating highway patrol, criminal investigations, and regulatory functions similar to Texas DPS. Comparable in scope across driver licensing oversight, multi-agency task force operations, and large-scale forensic/criminal justice infrastructure serving the largest U.S. state population.
- Michigan State Police: Michigan's full-service statewide law enforcement agency combining highway patrol, criminal investigations, forensics, and forensic laboratory services. Comparable to Texas DPS across regulatory oversight, statewide criminal justice systems, and integrated patrol/investigative functions.
- Illinois State Police: Illinois's statewide law enforcement agency with parallel patrol, investigations, forensics, and regulatory functions. Comparable to Texas DPS on statewide criminal intelligence, regulatory enforcement of private security and firearms, and forensic laboratory services.
- Ohio State Highway Patrol: Ohio's statewide law enforcement agency operating highway patrol, criminal investigations, and criminal justice information services. Directly comparable to Texas DPS on traffic enforcement, criminal intelligence sharing, and state-level forensics/information systems serving a mid-to-large population.
- Florida Highway Patrol: Florida's statewide highway patrol and motor vehicle compliance enforcement arm within FLHSMV. Directly comparable to Texas DPS's Highway Patrol Division on traffic enforcement, commercial vehicle regulation, and integrated driver licensing/regulatory functions across a large state.
- New York State Police: New York's statewide law enforcement agency providing highway patrol, criminal investigations, and forensic services analogous to Texas DPS. Comparable across regulatory oversight, statewide criminal justice telecommunications, and integrated K-9/tactical resources serving a large population base.
- Pennsylvania State Police: Pennsylvania's full-service statewide law enforcement agency providing patrol, investigations, and forensic services. Comparable to Texas DPS in providing comprehensive law enforcement services rather than narrowly scoped highway patrol, with similar regulatory and licensing program portfolios.
Broad incumbents
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE): Florida's statewide criminal investigative and forensic services agency, broader in investigative mandate than typical state police. Comparable to Texas DPS on statewide criminal justice information systems, forensic laboratory services, and interagency data exchange infrastructure.
- U.S. Marshals Service: Federal fugitive apprehension agency that partners directly with Texas DPS on multi-agency task force operations including Texas 10 Most Wanted captures. Comparable on fugitive operations, multi-jurisdictional task force coordination, and tactical/operational support for high-priority apprehensions.
- California Department of Justice: California's statewide law enforcement and regulatory agency operating criminal records, forensic services, and regulatory oversight of private security. Comparable to Texas DPS on criminal history database management, regulatory licensing, and integrated forensic laboratory operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Texas Department of Public Safety social profiles
Digital presenceTexas Department of Public Safety financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Texas Department of Public Safety leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Texas Department of Public Safety funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Texas Department of Public Safety M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Texas Department of Public Safety
What does Texas Department of Public Safety do?
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a state law enforcement and regulatory agency that issues driver licenses and identification cards, administers handgun licensing (License to Carry), operates the state's crime laboratory for forensic analysis including the CODIS DNA database, manages criminal history records and the sex offender registry, regulates private security, vehicle inspection stations, and metals recycling entities, and coordinates statewide emergency alert and fugitive apprehension programs.
Is Texas Department of Public Safety a public or private company?
Texas Department of Public Safety is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Texas Department of Public Safety founded?
Texas Department of Public Safety was founded in 1935. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Texas Department of Public Safety based?
Texas Department of Public Safety is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does Texas Department of Public Safety make money?
Nine revenue lines are on record. Driver License and ID Fees are the primary driver. The others are commercial Driver License (CDL) Fees, handgun Licensing (LTC) Fees, private Security Regulatory Fees, vehicle Inspection Program Fees, texas Metals Program Registration, criminal History Background Check Fees, sex Offender Registry Access and public Information Act Request Fees.
Who are Texas Department of Public Safety's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are California Highway Patrol, Michigan State Police, Illinois State Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Florida Highway Patrol, New York State Police and Pennsylvania State Police. Broad incumbents are Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), U.S. Marshals Service and California Department of Justice.
Does Texas Department of Public Safety have an API?
No public API is recorded for Texas Department of Public Safety.
What industry is Texas Department of Public Safety in?
Texas Department of Public Safety's product category is Public Safety / State Law Enforcement Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAGAJ, Traffic Enforcement & Road Safety (Highway Patrol, DUI, Collision Investigation), with a secondary code of BPAIABAO, State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector). Its NAICS code is 922.