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STATION BULLETIN 346 



are three such referees for each of the counties of Coos, Grafton, and 

 Hillsboro, two for Rockingham, and one for each of the other six 



counties. 



Salaries and fees of the county law enforcement officers are fixed 

 for each county by the public laws. The sheriff's salary varies among 

 counties from $800 to $2,000, and the solicitor's salary varies from 

 $800 to $2,500. Medical referees receive compensation entirely from 

 fees. The general duties of these officials were reviewed under "Coun- 

 ty Organization" in a previous section. 



The law enforcement functions of the state are largely concerned 

 with the attorney general and the motor vehicle commissioner. Both 

 of these officials are appointed by the governor and council ^^ for a 

 term of five years. The major function of the motor vehicle depart- 

 ment is concerned with the issuing of registrations and licenses, and 

 with the enforcement of motor vehicle laws by means of highway 

 patrolmen. Such patrolmen have the same powers of arrest as other 

 police officers, but these powers are restricted to violations of laws, 

 rules, and regulations relating to motor vehicles. The expenses of 

 the department are paid from its own receipts. 



The attorney general acts "as attorney for the state in all criminal 

 and civil causes in the supreme court in which the state is interested, 

 and in the prosecution (in superior courts) of persons accused of 

 crimes punishable with death or imprisonment for life or for twenty- 

 five years or more. He shall have and exercise general supervision 

 of the criminal causes pending before the supreme and superior courts 

 of the state, and with the aid of the solicitors of the several counties 

 he shall enforce the criminal laws of the state. ''^ 



The expenses of the attorney general's department are met from 

 legislative appropriations. During recent years these have ranged 

 between $24,000 and $36,000. 



The State Police Act ^"^ was passed in 1937 mainly because large 

 areas were without adequate police protection, and because criminals 

 could move so speedily beyond the limited jurisdiction of local police. 

 The authority and duties of the state police are state-wide. In gen- 

 eral they patrol the highways and enforce the highway traffic laws 

 and motor vehicle laws. Moreover, they have power to enforce the 

 criminal laws of the state and to serve criminal processes in all coun- 

 ties, but they do not serve civil processes. They report the apprehen- 

 sion of any person to the county solicitor and sheriff, with whom the 

 state police must cooperate for investigation and prosecution. The 

 jurisdiction of the state police does not extend to within the limits of 

 municipalities wdiich maintain an organized police force except when 

 they actually witness a crime or are acting in the interest of crimes 

 committed outside the municipal limits. 



The salaries and expenses of the state police are paid from the 

 receipts of the motor vehicle department to the extent of $150,000. 



ChaptefTsO^""''*''''^^ Constitution, Form of Government, Article 46, and Session Laws, 1931, 

 "Revised Laws, 1941, Chapter 24. 

 '* Revised Laws, 1941, Chapter 144. 



