§ 20-49.2. Supplemental authority of State Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement officers.
§ 20‑49.2. Supplementalauthority of State Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Enforcement officers.
In addition to law enforcementauthority granted in G.S. 20‑49 or elsewhere, all sworn Motor CarrierEnforcement officers of the State Highway Patrol shall have the authority toenforce criminal laws under the following circumstances:
(1) When they haveprobable cause to believe that a person has committed a criminal act in theirpresence and at the time of the violation they are engaged in the enforcementof laws otherwise within their jurisdiction.
(2) When they are askedto provide temporary assistance by the head of a State or local law enforcementagency or his designee and the request is within the scope of the agency'ssubject matter jurisdiction.
While acting pursuant to thissection, they shall have the same powers invested in law enforcement officersby statute or common law. When acting pursuant to subdivision (2) of thissection, they shall not be considered an officer, employee, or agent for theState or local law enforcement agency or designee asking for temporaryassistance. Nothing in this statute shall be construed to expand theirauthority to initiate or conduct an independent investigation into violationsof criminal laws outside the scope of their subject matter or territorialjurisdiction. (2004‑148,s. 2.)