▁order , ▁safety , ▁security , ▁and ▁public ▁health , ▁and ▁also ▁to ▁provide ▁an ▁administrative ▁function , ▁known ▁as ▁the ▁" pol ice ▁power ▁of ▁the ▁mayor . ▁" ▁ ▁Although ▁the ▁word ▁" pol ice " ▁refers ▁to ▁the ▁maintenance ▁of ▁order , ▁the ▁function ▁mainly ▁compr ises ▁the ▁protection ▁of ▁citizens ▁from ▁dis aster s , ▁and ▁the ▁task ▁of ▁reg ulating ▁traffic ▁and ▁par king . ▁To ▁do ▁so , ▁municipal ities ▁are ▁required ▁to ▁establish ▁municipal ▁police ▁services , ▁under ▁the ▁authority ▁of ▁the ▁mayor ▁for ▁the ▁task ▁of ▁enfor cing ▁local ▁byla ws . ▁ ▁To ▁implement ▁the ▁mayor ' s ▁responsibility , ▁municipal ities ▁can ▁create ▁appropriate ▁services ▁and ▁h ire ▁two ▁types ▁of ▁agents : ▁the ▁municipal ▁police , ▁the ▁functions ▁and ▁status ▁are ▁discussed ▁in ▁this ▁article , ▁and ▁Gar de ▁champ être ▁whose ▁employ ment ▁is ▁often ▁created ▁in ▁rural ▁areas . ▁ ▁The ▁general ▁code ▁reg ulating ▁local ▁authorities ▁l ays ▁down ▁the ▁status ▁of ▁municipal ▁police ▁officers : ▁ ▁" With out ▁pre jud ice ▁to ▁the ▁general ▁juris diction ▁of ▁the ▁national ▁police ▁force ▁and ▁national ▁g endar mer ie , ▁within ▁the ▁limits ▁of ▁their ▁powers , ▁the ▁municipal ▁police ▁officers ▁carry ▁out ▁duties ▁required ▁by ▁the ▁town ▁council ▁for ▁crime ▁prevent ion , ▁public ▁order , ▁security , ▁and ▁public ▁safety . ▁ ▁Without ▁pre jud ice ▁to ▁the ▁powers ▁accord ed ▁them ▁by ▁special ▁laws , ▁they ▁issue ▁traffic ▁fin es ▁and ▁pen alt ies ▁for ▁off