Georgia § 27-1-20 - Additional powers of game wardens; functions of other agencies assigned to department.

§ 27-1-20. Additional powers of game wardens; functions of other agencies assigned to department.

In addition to the powers enumerated in Code Sections 27-1-18 and 27-1-19, game wardens shall have all the powers previously vested in any other law enforcement officers within the department including, but not limited to, the following: To enforce all laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to wildlife and to boating safety and as otherwise provided; To execute all warrants and search warrants for the violation of the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to wildlife or to boating safety; To serve subpoenas issued for the examination, investigation, and trial of all offenses against the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to wildlife or to boating safety; To arrest without warrant any person found violating any of the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to wildlife or to hunting, fishing, or boating; To seize and take possession of all wildlife or parts thereof taken, caught, killed, captured, possessed, or controlled or which have been shipped or are about to be shipped at any time and in any manner or for any purpose contrary to the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to wildlife; To go upon property outside of buildings, posted or otherwise, in the performance of their duties; To carry firearms while performing duties pertaining to wildlife; To seize as evidence, without warrant, any device other than a boat, vehicle, or aircraft when they have cause to believe that its possession or use is in violation of any of the provisions of the laws or regulations dealing with wildlife. For the purposes of this Code section, "device" includes any light, hunting apparatus, or fishing or netting gear or tackle; To enter and inspect any commercial cold storage warehouse, ice house, locker plant, butcher shop, or other plant or building for the purpose of determining whether wildlife is being kept or stored therein in violation of the wildlife laws or regulations; and To exercise the full authority of peace officers while in the performance of their duties. Unless inconsistent with this title, whenever any statute pertaining to an agency whose functions are assigned to the department refers to law enforcement personnel of that agency, that reference applies to game wardens. (Ga. L. 1911, p. 137, § 4; Ga. L. 1912, p. 113, § 1; Ga. L. 1931, p. 173, §§ 1-3; Code 1933, §§ 45-108, 45-126; Ga. L. 1955, p. 483, § 18; Ga. L. 1968, p. 497, § 6; Ga. L. 1970, p. 466, § 1; Ga. L. 1973, p. 1483, § 4; Code 1933, § 45-120, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 396, § 1; Ga. L. 2019, p. 808, § 7/SB 72.) The 2019 amendment, effective July 1, 2019, substituted "game wardens" for "conservation rangers" in the introductory language of subsection (a) and at the end of subsection (b). Cross references. - Searches without warrants generally, § 17-5-1 et seq. Peace officers generally, § 35-8-1 et seq. Enforcement of laws pertaining to boating safety, § 52-7-25 .