(1) All inspectors on duty shall wear uniforms, shall have the right to bear arms, and shall have the authority to make arrests and hold and impound any vehicle and the contents thereof which is being operated in violation of this chapter or the commission’s rules, regulations or general orders promulgated thereunder.

(2) All inspectors shall have the authority to enforce all of the laws, rules and regulations of the commission upon all highways in the state and the rights-of-way of such highways and other properties as defined in Section 77-7-261; except that if any person commits an offense in violation of this chapter or the rules and regulations of this commission upon a highway in the state and be pursued by a member or inspector of the commission, such member may pursue and apprehend such offender upon any of the highways in this state, or to any other place to which such offender may flee.

(3) All inspectors shall have the authority to aid and assist any law enforcement officer whose life or safety is in jeopardy and may arrest without warrant any fugitive from justice who has escaped or who is using the highways in the state in an attempt to flee. With the approval of the commission or its designee, inspectors of the commission may assist other law enforcement agencies in searching for convicted felons who have escaped or for alleged felons where there is probable cause to believe that the person being sought committed the felony and a felony had actually been committed.

(4) Upon request of the Mississippi Highway Patrol, a sheriff of any county or the chief of police of any community and with the consent of the commission, all inspectors have the authority to assist in traffic control during time of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornados or floods.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as granting the commission general police powers.