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I wouldn’t recommend mixing alcohol and off-roading. But I’ve known more than one hunter who figured national forests were “no man’s land.” They didn’t think twice about having a few beers and then driving down some fire road to another campground. After all, “There aren’t any police out here, just game wardens!” Well I’ve got some news: In many states a game warden can absolutely arrest you for driving drunk. And they can pull you over on the road too.

In fact, some high-profile celebrities have been hit with a very similar ticket. You know the lawyer Erin Brockovich who Julia Roberts played in the movie about her life? Well, in 2013 she was boating on Nevada’s Lake Mead and ticketed for a DUI. By a game warden.

Considering what she does for a living, it must have been an airtight case if the charges stuck.

Every state is different. But it would be problematic if a game warden witnessing someone endangering other drivers couldn’t intervene. So most have some kind of law allowing them to protect other drivers.

Take Texas for example, the state’s Parks and Wildlife Code states that Wildlife Department officers, “have the same powers, privileges, and immunities as peace officers.”

Specifically, Texas game wardens “have the same authority as a sheriff to arrest, serve criminal or civil process, and require aid in serving criminal or civil process coextensive with the boundaries of this state.”

This applies to a game warden’s jurisdiction off-road or on the water. But it also applies if they’re on a regular road, for example if they’re driving from the trailhead to the office. So next time you see a game warden, be sure to behave yourself.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.