The commissioner of public safety shall be placed in charge of and be responsible for the taking up and impounding of livestock found on the highways or highway right-of-ways described in Section 69-13-101. The commissioner of public safety is authorized, in his discretion, to secure the services of any person or persons residing in the respective counties of the state where he deems it necessary or advisable, other than an elected county officer, who shall assist the highway safety patrol in taking up such loose livestock and impounding the same in a private enclosure, which the private individual provides, without any cost to the state, such an individual being paid solely from the fees and assessments hereinafter provided against any such livestock. The commissioner of public safety, in the alternative, may require that such livestock be impounded in an enclosure, in the event the board of supervisors of that county has provided such an enclosure for that purpose.
A private individual hired by the commissioner of public safety to pick up loose livestock may not pick up such livestock off the highways and highway right-of-ways unless a state highway patrolman, or a sheriff or his deputy, or a constable, or some other law enforcement officer is present at the time such livestock is picked up.
The board of supervisors of each county within the State of Mississippi may, in its discretion, make provision for the care of animals so taken up and impounded under the provisions of this article and all county officers and law enforcement officers are directed to give full cooperation to the highway safety patrol in carrying out the provisions of this article.