Criminal Justice (Public Safety)

This bill amends Oklahoma law to clarify the law enforcement authority of the Department of Public Safety, specifically the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, by explicitly designating its officers as state peace officers with broad powers to enforce traffic and vehicle-related laws. The legislation allows the department to pursue violators across state lines, inspect vehicles for safety and registration compliance, seize unsafe or stolen vehicles, and enforce regulations on commercial motor carriers and fuel taxes. It also establishes a process for designating certain roadways as safety corridors where the department may have special enforcement authority, while ensuring these expanded powers do not limit the authority of local sheriffs or other peace officers.