Mississippi Code Title 77. Public Utilities and Carriers § 77-1-21. Enforcement officer and inspectors;  qualifications;  transfers to Department of Transportation

(1) For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Mississippi Motor Carrier Regulatory Law of 1938, the Mississippi Department of Transportation is authorized to employ, in addition to personnel already employed by the department, one (1) chief enforcement officer and twenty-one (21) inspectors, who shall be under the management of the department.  The chief enforcement officer and the inspectors shall devote their full time to the performance of their duties and shall take an oath faithfully to perform the duties of their position.  The department shall require bonds to be carried on such employees as the department may deem necessary, the cost thereof to be paid by the department.  The chief enforcement officer and inspectors shall be qualified by experience and training in law enforcement or investigative work, and shall attend and satisfactorily complete an appropriate course of instruction established by the Commissioner of Public Safety at the Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy.  The chief enforcement officer and the inspectors referred to in this section shall be selected after an examination as to physical and mental fitness.  Such employees shall be citizens of the United States and the State of Mississippi, and of good moral character.  All such members of staff shall be appointed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation and shall be subject to removal at any time by the department.

(2) The Public Service Commission shall transfer all employees, equipment, inventory and resources of the commission employed and used to enforce the Motor Carrier Regulatory Law of 1938 to the Mississippi Department of Transportation on July 1, 2004.  The transfer of personnel shall be commensurate with the number and classification of positions allocated to that law enforcement.  The transfer also shall include direct support, clerical, data processing and communications positions allocated to that law enforcement.

(3) The Public Service Commission shall transfer to the Mississippi Department of Transportation each year the amount of funds necessary to support the law enforcement functions being performed for the commission by the department, as specified in the appropriation bill for the Public Service Commission.

(4) Any reference in any statute, rule or regulation to law enforcement duties being performed by the Public Service Commission shall be construed to mean law enforcement duties being performed for the commission by the Mississippi Department of Transportation.