§ 77-78. Enforcement.
§ 77‑78. Enforcement.
(a) Where a jointresolution so provides, all law enforcement officers, or those officers as maybe designated in the joint resolution, with territorial jurisdiction as to anypart of Mountain Island Lake or its shoreline area shall, within thelimitations of their subject matter jurisdiction, have the authority of peaceofficers in enforcing the laws over all of Mountain Island Lake and itsshoreline area.
(b) Where a jointresolution provides it, the Commission may hire special officers to patrol andenforce the laws on Mountain Island Lake and its shoreline area. Thesespecial officers have and exercise all the powers of peace officers generallywithin the area in question and shall take the oaths and be subject to all provisionsof law relating to law enforcement officers.
(c) Unless a jointresolution provides otherwise, all courts in the three counties within thelimits of their subject matter jurisdiction shall have concurrent jurisdictionas to all criminal offenses arising within the boundaries of Mountain IslandLake and its shoreline area.
(d) Where a lawenforcement officer with jurisdiction over any part of Mountain Island Lake orits shoreline area is performing duties relating to the enforcement of thelaws on Mountain Island Lake or in its shoreline area, the officer has theextraterritorial jurisdiction necessary to perform his duties. These dutiesinclude investigation of crimes an officer reasonably believes have been, orare about to be, committed within the area in question. This includestraversing by reasonable routes from one portion of that area to anotheralthough across territory not within the boundaries of Mountain Island Lakeand its shoreline area; conducting prisoners in custody to court or detention facilities as authorized by law, although this may involve going outside thearea in question; execution of process connected with any criminal offensealleged to have been committed within the boundaries in question, except that suchprocess may not be executed by virtue of this provision beyond the boundariesof the three counties. This also includes continuing pursuit of and arrestingany violator or suspected violator as to which grounds for arrest arose withinthe area in question.
(e) Where lawenforcement officers are given additional territorial jurisdiction under theprovisions of this section, this shall be deemed an extension of the duties ofthe office held, and no officer shall take any additional oath or title ofoffice. (1997‑257, s. 9.)