Has anyone noticed how many constable cars are driving around our area lately? Maybe it is the same car and just one really active constable. I see one of these cars out at least every other day. I will admit that a couple of months ago a constable pulled my automobile over. I wasn’t speeding or breaking any traffic violations. The inspection sticker on the car I was driving had expired. Note "the car I was driving" because it was not MY auto but someone else’s in my family for whom I took the rap.
It scared me when I was pulled over. I thought constables served warrants or picked up truants. Receiving a traffic ticket seemed a lot better than the other options swirling in my head. After I was gifted with the piece of paper reminding my family member of their delinquency in keeping up their car, I was a little creeped out. How close was this guy to see that little sticker in my window?
Since then, I see these constable cars all the time. I didn’t really know what they are — who they are — so I looked it up. I learned that their sole duty is to issue warrants. "A constable shall execute and return as provided by law each process, warrant, and precept that is directed to the constable…." (Texas Code, Section 86.021)
To be fair, the code continues that constables have all the powers to do all that other stuff regular police officers do, too. But is someone telling them to go after cars more than people with outstanding warrants?
