253.065. Park rangers, appointment, powers as peace officers. - Missouri Statutes

Park rangers, appointment, powers as peace officers.

253.065. 1. Each park ranger employed by the director ofthe department of natural resources and such other employees asmay be designated by the director shall be certified by thedirector of the department of public safety, as provided inchapter 590, RSMo. Each such person shall take and subscribe anoath of office to perform his duties faithfully and impartiallyand shall be given a certificate of commission as a peace officerfor state parks. The commission shall grant him the same powersas other peace officers to maintain order, preserve the peace andmake arrests for violations of law on all land under thejurisdiction and control of the director and on all state andcounty highways within the boundaries of state parks.

2. Each park ranger shall have the authority to haveabandoned vehicles or watercraft removed from state and countyroads within state parks and from all land and water owned,leased or under the supervision of the department of naturalresources, if the vehicle has been left unattended on the land orin the water, on the roadway or right-of-way for a period offorty-eight hours. If the vehicle is creating a safety or healthhazard, it may be removed as soon as is practical. The procedurecontained in section 304.155, RSMo, shall be observed forreporting the storage location, notification of the owner anddisposal of the vehicle or watercraft.

(L. 1961 p. 230 § 2, A.L. 1983 H.B. 350)