Blue Knights^® Texas XXXI

1.  Be an active full or part time law enforcement officer with powers of arrest.
2.  Be employed by a governmental agency and receive monetary compensation,
     or be a retired or disabled former law enforcement officer.
3.  Possess a valid license to operate a motorcycle.
4.  Own a motorcycle or plan to purchase one within six months.
 

1. REGULAR MEMBERS

         All regular members must be persons who are full time (32 hours per week minimum) employees of a governmental law enforcement agency or department.  Such employment must be the primary source of employment of all Regular members.  All Regular members must have arrest authority.

         Persons receiving disability income or job reclassification due to injuries received while engaged in law enforcement employment or who are receiving retirement income for full-time employment as herein defined, by a governmental law enforcement agency or department are eligible for Regular membership although they are not presently employed by such a law enforcement agency or department.

         Persons who have served twenty (20) years or more and have been a Blue Knight for one (1) year or more, who have taken a retirement option and who have taken a separation from law enforcement employment, under honorable circumstances, and will at some time receive retirement income for full-time  employment, as herein defined, by a government law enforcement agency or department are eligible for Regular membership although they are not presently employed by such a law enforcement agency or department.  The person must provide letters of proof of honorary separation from all departments.

         Persons who are presently Regular members for one (1) year or more and who have fifteen (15) years or more with a law enforcement agency or department who have for any honorable circumstance, taken a separation from an agency or department are eligible for Associate membership although they may not be employed by a law enforcement agency or department.  The person must provide letters of proof of honorable separation from all departments.

         Persons who are presently Regular members for five (5) years or more and who have served ten (10) years or more with a law enforcement agency, who have for any honorable circumstance, taken a separation from their agency are eligible for Associate membership although they may not be employed by a law enforcement agency or department.  The person must provide  proof of honorable separation.

         Each Regular member must be properly licensed to drive a motorcycle by the State or Province in which he resides and must own a motorcycle, excepting, however, that persons who otherwise qualify as Regular members, but do not own motorcycles, may become members if they have plans to own a motorcycle and do in fact acquire ownership rights in a motorcycle within six (6) months of their acceptance as members.

         Any Regular member who because of an injury or medical or physical condition is unable to continue riding a motorcycle, may retain his/her membership as a regular member.

2.  ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

         All Associate members must be persons who are employed on a part time basis (less than 32 hours per week, minimum 10 hours per year) by a governmental law enforcement agency or department and receiving monetary compensation for such employment.  All Associate members must have arrest authority.  Any Associate member on May 24, 1983 shall have the right to continue as an Associate member if he meets all other requirements.

         Persons who have been employed on a part time basis (less than 32 hours per week, minimum 10 hours per year) by a governmental law enforcement agency or department for fifteen (15) years or more and have been a Blue Knight for five (5) years or more who have taken an honorable separation from his/her law enforcement agency or department (reasons - health, retirement, age, or injury) are eligible for Associate membership although they may not be employed by any law enforcement agency or department, and are not receiving retirement compensation.  They must provide letters of proof of honorable separation.

         A person may also qualify for Associate membership as per Section 1, paragraph 4.

         Each Associate member must be properly licensed to drive a motorcycle by the State or Province in which he resides and must own a motorcycle, excepting however, that persons who otherwise qualify as Associate members, but do not own motorcycles, may become members if they have plans to own a motorcycle and do in fact acquire ownership rights in a motorcycle within six (6) months of their acceptance as a member.

         Any Associate member who because of an injury or medical or physical condition is unable to continue riding a motorcycle, may retain his/her membership as an Associate member.

3.  HONORARY MEMBERS

         Honorary members must be persons who have substantially contributed to the promotion of the Corporation and to the purposes for which the corporation is organized.  Honorary membership in any given chapter may not exceed more than ten percent (10%) of the previous year's membership of Regular, Associate and Life members.

4.  LIFE MEMBERS

         Life members are restricted to the Founding Fathers of the International and Past international Presidents in good standing.  Life members are not obligated to be a member of a chapter.

5.  SPECIAL HONORARY MEMBERS

         Special honorary membership may be granted to an ordained member of a recognized religious order for the position of chapter Chaplain.  This is limited to one (1) per chapter and will not effect the chapter's ten  percent (10%) honorary limit.