"I didn't know it was their job to arrest people."
Oh yes. As a matter of fact, they are one of only two law enforcement agencies in Texas who can enter a home without a search warrant; the other being Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. TABC can arrest a person for any crime; not just those that are alcohol related. They have a lot of authority.
Game Wardens are law enforcement officers, and as such are cover by the same constitution that covers all law enforcement officers.
It took some of the old boys two trips to civil court before they changed their policy.
There is one other exception, if you have your windows open, and they can see you violation the law, and they do not have time to secure a search warrant, they can go in and seize and arrest.
"Oh yes. As a matter of fact, they are one of only two law enforcement agencies in Texas who can enter a home without a search warrant; the other being Texas PARKS AND WILDLIFE Commission."
Agent: "FREEZE!!! HAND OVER THE ARMADILLO, NOW!!!"
Homeowner: "Wait a second, where's your warrant????"
Agent: "WE DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' WARRANT. THERE ARE ANIMALS' LIVES AT STAKE!"
Bingo!
I was working at a Bar & Grille a few years back and they came in on a bogus raid called in by people that did not like the fact that we sold drinks and they had 2 local cops that I knew well and the cops would not even look at me they just stood there while TABC did the rousting of everybody.
Later on one of the cops came back off duty and apologizes for ignoring me but said that they had to play the backup role and in fact were pulled off other calls to do so.
I am becoming deeply disturbed by the increasing number of law enforcement agencies that are springing up around the country. The number of armed officers with arrest powers is growing and I fear the pool of persons really suited to that kind of work is being depleted. One of the constant challenges to law enforcement is to weed out, hopefully before they are hired, those whose personality or history who should not have a badge and a weapon, the wannabees. As the number of possibilities for employment increases, so too, I would think, will the odds of getting people who just can't do the job.