Court has first reading of constable ordinance

The Martin County Fiscal Court had the first reading of an ordinance Thursday that would allow the county’s constables to use blue lights and sirens as long as they meet certain requirements.

By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor

INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court held its regular meeting Thursday, giving first reading of an ordinance that would allow constables in Martin County to use blue lights and sirens while they are acting in their official capacity as law enforcement. Judge-Executive Bill Davis read the ordinance, which requires all Martin County constables who want to use blue lights and sirens to meet certain criteria. Under the ordinance, constables would have to have their vehicles clearly marked that they are constables, have 40 hours of training and have the required automobile liability coverage is they want to use blue lights and sirens. Magistrate Roger Harless said he disagreed with parts of the requirements, because it is their personal vehicles and he didn’t feel it is right to force them to clearly mark their personal vehicles. Magistrate Victor Slone said that he is in complete agreement with the stipulations of the ordinance because having more trained officers in the field would be good for the county.
Slone also pointed out that $2,500 had been set aside for constables and said that it could be used to fix up their automobiles if that is what they wanted to do. Davis said that it is the first reading of the ordinance and that it isn’t necessary to vote on the matter until the second reading. In other business,the fiscal court unanimously approved the adoption of several new roads into the county road system.
In other business, the fiscal court unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting and the financials. An individual spoke up during the meeting to announce that he had been having a lot of problems with drugs on Otto Drive and while he thinks Martin County Sheriff John Kirk is doing a good job, said that the sheriff doesn’t have enough help and he would like to see something done about it.
Harless said that he hopes the new ordinance approving the constables using blue lights and sirens will help in the future.