So as I was driving today, I saw an Environmental Police Officer pull over a car from the left hand lane on a major highway in Massachusetts. I have never seen them stopping a car on a major highway, Mass Turnpike, before and was wondering if anyone knew about their jurisdiction on highways and police powers in regards to pulling over cars. Just curious.

 

The have power statewide as well as all water bodies. Most are good outdoor people, must be a reason they pulled the car over.

 

Sounds like a Va. Game Warden.

 

Environmental Police have police powers in addition to their Fish and Game duties. They actually have more power to arrest and fine than regular police officers or state police in Massachusetts.

 

Then they are very similar to a Va. Game Warden. A Game Warden has statewide authority as well increased police powers (as compared to a local city or county officer). In the rural areas they handle the environmental crimes as well, but in the metropolitan areas the fire depts typically handle environmental crimes. The FDs have select firefighters with police powers that handle arson, post blast investigations, and environmental crimes. The rural depts use the Va. State Police and Va. Game Wardens.