reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
GA Code § 40-11-11 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-11. Short Title

 The article shall be known and may be cited as the "Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act."    (Code 1981, §40-11-11, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL    Construction with O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13. - The Department of Public Safety is not authorized to establish maximum rates for the removal and storage of motor vehicles pursuant to the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, O.C.G.A. § 40-11-11 et seq., beyond the department's regulatory authority as set forth in O.C.G.A. § 44-1-13. 2019 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 19-1.   Purpose.    - The Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, O.C.G.A. § 40-11-11 et seq., was enacted during the 2019 legislative session to create a comprehensive and streamlined process for the removal of abandoned and unclaimed vehicles from public rights of way and private or public property. 2019 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 19-1.
GA Code § 40-11-12 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-12. Legislative Intent

 The intent of the General Assembly is to provide a comprehensive and streamlined process for businesses removing motor vehicles from public rights of way and private or public property to recover the costs associated with this work while balancing the rights of a motor vehicle owner, when a motor vehicle has been abandoned or unclaimed. Businesses removing motor vehicles from public rights of way and private property without the consent of an owner are regulated by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Code Section 44-1-13 and, as such, the recoverable fees for these businesses are limited. When executed at the request of law enforcement, these businesses perform an essential public function of keeping highways in this state free from obstructions that could cause a threat to public health or safety or cause traffic congestion. As a result of licensure, these businesses often incur great costs in performing this service but are unable to recover the full amounts expended. The intent of the General Assembly is to allow such businesses to continue to remove abandoned vehicles at the request of law enforcement and private property owners, by providing a method for obtaining excess funds from the sale of abandoned and unclaimed vehicles and applying those funds as reimbursements for unrecovered expenses of such businesses, which will allow them to remain viable and to minimize any financial loss in performing this important public safety function.    (Code 1981, §40-11-12, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Purpose.    - The Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act, O.C.G.A. § 40-11-11 et seq., was enacted during the 2019 legislative session to create a comprehensive and streamlined process for the removal of abandoned and unclaimed vehicles from public rights of way and private or public property. 2019 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 19-1.
GA Code § 40-11-13 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-13. Definitions

 As used in this article, the term:    "Day" means a business day unless otherwise stated and shall not include Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays recognized by the state.   "Department" means the Department of Revenue or any entity that has an agreement with such department to serve as an authorized entity to access information relating to motor vehicle ownership and disseminate such information upon request and which is identified as such an authorized entity on the website of the Department of Revenue.   "Motor vehicle" means every trailer and vehicle which is self-propelled.   "Owner" means any secured interest holder with a current interest in a motor vehicle and person listed on the registration of a motor vehicle found in the records of the department or in the records of the state where the vehicle is registered.   "Paid private parking lot" means private property where the owner or operator of a motor vehicle pays a valuable consideration for the right to park in such location.   "Repair facility" means any person maintaining physical custody of a motor vehicle for repairs that have been requested or authorized by an owner or by an insurance company acting on behalf of an owner.   "Salvage dealer" means any person taking possession of a motor vehicle from or upon request from an insurance company which is damaged to the extent that its restoration to an operable condition would require the replacement of two or more major component parts or for which the insurance company has paid a total loss claim and has been unable to obtain a certificate of title.   "Secured interest holder" means a secured party within the meaning of Code Section 11-9-102 or a person with a perfected encumbrance pertaining to an interest in a motor vehicle.   "Towing and storage firm" means any person regulated by the Department of Public Safety and in compliance with requirements set forth in Code Section 44-1-13 who removes a motor vehicle from private or public property with or without the consent of the motor vehicle owner or authorized user and provides storage for such motor vehicle after removal.   "Trailer" means a vehicle with or without motive power designed to be drawn by a motor vehicle; provided, however, that such term shall not include a mobile home as such term is set forth in Code Section 8-2-160 unless such vehicle was left unattended on public property and its removal was requested by a peace officer.     (Code 1981, §40-11-13, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)
GA Code § 40-11-15 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-15. Removal of Vehicle; Liability; Duty of Towing and Storage Firm When Removal at Request of Law Enforcement

  Any peace officer who finds a motor vehicle which has been left unattended on a highway for more than five days, as evidenced by the date on an unattended vehicle check card, may cause such motor vehicle to be removed to a garage or other place of safety.   Any peace officer who finds a motor vehicle which has been left unattended on a highway and which poses an immediate threat to public health or safety or traffic congestion may cause such motor vehicle to be removed to a garage or other place of safety. Within 24 hours of causing an unattended motor vehicle to be removed pursuant to this subsection, the peace officer shall query the criminal justice information system to determine if the unattended motor vehicle has been entered into the criminal justice information system as a stolen vehicle. If a removed vehicle has been reported as stolen, the peace officer shall place a phone call to the law enforcement agency that filed such report, providing the name and address of the towing and storage firm that removed the motor vehicle. The law enforcement agency receiving such phone call shall notify the owner of the vehicle of the location of the motor vehicle.   Any peace officer who causes an unattended motor vehicle to be removed pursuant to this Code section shall be liable only for gross negligence.   A towing and storage firm that has removed an unattended motor vehicle from public property at the request of a peace officer shall, within three days of the removal, request from the department the identification and addresses of all owners of such vehicle contained in the records of the department; provided, however, that if such vehicle has an out-of-state license plate, such request shall be made to the state where the vehicle is registered or to an entity with access to such state's vehicle registration information. The department shall furnish the requested owner information no later than five days from the date the request was received. The department may charge a fee of no more than $2.00 for such owner information. For purposes of this subsection, an unattended motor vehicle shall include a motor vehicle required to be moved due to arrest of the vehicle's operator or any direction of a peace officer.   Failure of a peace officer to comply with any provision of this Code section shall not limit the remedies available to any person pursuant to this article.     (Code 1981, §40-11-15, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307; Ga. L. 2020, p. 493, § 40/SB 429.)    The 2020 amendment,  effective July 29, 2020, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, revised punctuation in the first sentence of subsection (b).
GA Code § 40-11-17 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-17. Removal From Private Parking Lot; Fees; Penalty

  It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, tow, or immobilize or cause to be removed, towed, or immobilized a motor vehicle left in a paid private parking lot between midnight and 9 A.M. of the following day. Nothing in this Code section shall prohibit the owner or operator of a paid private parking lot from charging a penalty for vehicles which remain in a paid private parking lot during such period without authorization. Such penalty shall not exceed $25.00 in excess of normal parking fees. No owner or operator of a paid private parking lot shall be liable for any damages to any motor vehicle remaining in a paid private parking lot during such period without authorization. Nothing in this Code section shall prohibit a resident or a business owner who is not an owner or operator of a paid private parking lot from towing, removing, immobilizing, or causing to be towed, removed, or immobilized a motor vehicle left without authorization on private property.   Any person violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.     (Code 1981, §40-11-17, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Fingerprinting not required.    - Offenses arising from a violation of O.C.G.A. § 40-11-17 are not offenses for which fingerprinting is required. 2019 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 19-3.
GA Code § 40-11-18 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-18. Retrieval of Personal Property

  A towing and storage firm, repair facility, or salvage dealer shall allow an owner of a vehicle to retrieve any personal property within a stored vehicle for up to 30 days from the date which notice was sent pursuant to Code Section 40-11-19.   Any personal property left in a vehicle after 30 days from the date on which notice was sent pursuant to Code Section 40-11-19 shall be considered abandoned.   For purposes of this Code section, the term "personal property" shall not include any items attached or affixed to the motor vehicle.     (Code 1981, §40-11-18, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307; Ga. L. 2020, p. 493, § 40/SB 429.)    The 2020 amendment,  effective July 29, 2020, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted "on which" for "which" in subsection (b); and revised capitalization in subsection (c).
GA Code § 40-11-19.2 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-19.2. Public Sale Authorized Upon Court Order; Procedure Following Satisfaction of Lien; Disposition of Excess Proceeds

    As used in this subsection, the term "public sale" means a sale:   Held at a place reasonably available to persons who might desire to attend and submit bids;   At which those attending shall be given the opportunity to bid on a competitive basis; and   Except as otherwise provided in Title 11 for advertising or dispensing with the advertising of public sales, of which notice is given by advertisement once a week for two weeks in the newspaper in which the sheriff's advertisements are published in the county where the sale is to be held, and which notice shall state the day and hour, between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., and the place of sale and shall briefly identify the motor vehicle to be sold.     Upon order of the court issued pursuant to Code Section 40-11-19.1, the towing and storage firm, repair facility, or salvage dealer shall be authorized to sell the motor vehicle to the highest and best bidder at public sale.     After satisfaction of the lien, the towing and storage firm, repair facility, or salvage dealer selling such motor vehicle shall, not later than 15 days after the date of such sale, provide the Department of Revenue by electronic means a copy of the bill of sale as provided to the purchaser and turn the remaining proceeds of such sale, if any, over to the department to be treated as unclaimed property pursuant to Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 44, the "Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.” The towing and storage firm, repair facility, or salvage dealer selling such vehicle may deduct from such proceeds the cost incurred by the advertisement of the public sale, provided that such amount is no greater than $120.00, and the cost incurred by the holding of the public sale, provided that the cost is no greater than $200.00. Any deduction so made shall be evidenced by receipts or on a form prescribed by the Department of Revenue for such purpose through rule and regulation. Any person convicted of failing to comply with the requirements of this subsection shall be subject to a civil penalty as provided for in Article 5 of Chapter 12 of Title 44.     (Code 1981, §40-11-19.2, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307; Ga. L. 2021, p. 358, § 3/HB 207.)    The 2021 amendment,  effective July 1, 2021, substituted "by electronic means" for "with" near the middle of the first sentence of subsection (b).
GA Code § 40-11-19.3 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-19.3. Certified Copy of Court Order; Obtaining Certificate of Title

 The purchaser of a motor vehicle at a sale authorized in this article shall receive a certified copy of the court order from the seller of the vehicle authorizing such sale. Any such purchaser may obtain a certificate of title to such motor vehicle by filing the required application, paying the required fees, and filing a certified copy of the order of the court with the Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue shall then issue a certificate of title, which shall be free and clear of all liens and encumbrances.    (Code 1981, §40-11-19.3, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)
GA Code § 40-11-19.4 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-19.4. Development and Publication of Forms by the Council of Magistrate Court Judges; Requirements

 Any forms required to be made available by the Council of Magistrate Court Judges under this article shall be developed and published no later than September 1, 2019. Such forms shall be no longer than one page per form, front and back, and every effort shall be made to consolidate any required notice or mailing to a single page.    (Code 1981, §40-11-19.4, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)
GA Code § 40-11-19.5 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 1A - Abandoned Motor Vehicles|§ 40-11-19.5. Form for Disclaimer of Motor Vehicle Ownership Interest

 DISCLAIMER OF MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERSHIP INTEREST Georgia, ____________ County I, ________________________ (name of motor vehicle owner) do hereby swear that I disclaim any and all ownership interest in: ________________________ (motor vehicle year, model, and make) ________________________ (vehicle identification number (VIN)) ________________________ (vehicle registration number, if available) I understand that by signing this form I will no longer hold any rights to the above listed vehicle and such vehicle may be sold at auction to satisfy a debt related to a lien filed against the vehicle. I further understand that disclaiming an ownership interest in this vehicle does not relieve me of any other debts related to such vehicle, such as a debt entered into for the purchase of such vehicle. By signing this form, I understand that I waive all future notices to which I am entitled under Article 1A of Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, "The Abandoned Motor Vehicle Act." ________________________________________ Owner signature Sworn to and subscribed in ________________________ County, Georgia, This ________ (date) Before me: ________________________________ (Notary public signature, seal, and commission expiration date). If you wish to disclaim ownership, return this completed and notarized form to __________________ (name and address of party owed fees).    (Code 1981, §40-11-19.5, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 872, § 5/HB 307.)   Code Commission notes.   - Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2019, near the beginning of the Code section, a parentheses was added after "(vehicle identification number (VIN)" and near the middle of the Code section, "of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated" was added following "Title 40".
GA Code § 40-11-20 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 2 - Civil Forfeiture of Vehicles and Components|§ 40-11-20. Items Subject to Civil Forfeiture

 The following items are declared to be contraband and are subject to forfeiture in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 16 of Title 9:    Any motor vehicle the manufacturer's vehicle identification number of which has been removed, altered, defaced, falsified, or destroyed; and   Any component part of a motor vehicle the manufacturer's identification number of which has been removed, altered, defaced, falsified, or destroyed.     (Code 1981, §40-11-20, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 1948, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 7-1; Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 3-25/HB 233.)   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 4-1/HB 233, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "This Act shall become effective Jly 1, 2015, and shall apply to seizures of property for forfeiture that occur on or after that date. Any such seizure that occurs before July 1, 2015, shall be governed by the statute in effect at the time of such seizure."   Law reviews.   - For article on the 2015 amendment of this Code section, see 32 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 1 (2015).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   ALR.   - Criminal liability, under state law, concerning illegal removal or alteration of vehicle identification number, including sale or possession of altered motor vehicles or parts, 107 A.L.R.5th 567.
GA Code § 40-11-21 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 2 - Civil Forfeiture of Vehicles and Components|§ 40-11-21. Assignment of New Identification Numbers Prior to Disposition of Property

 Prior to the property's being sold or returned to the owner or otherwise disposed of, the Department of Revenue shall assign it a new identification number. If the property is to be returned to the owner, the court shall order that such return is conditioned on the owner paying the expenses relating to the civil forfeiture, including the expenses of maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs.    (Code 1981, §40-11-24, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 1948, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 7-1; Ga. L. 2005, p. 334, § 21-7/HB 501; Code 1981, §40-11-21, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 3-25/HB 233.)   Editor's notes.   - Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 4-1/HB 233, not codified by the General Assembly, provides that: "This Act shall become effective July 1, 2015, and shall apply to seizures of property for forfeiture that occur on or after that date. Any such seizure that occurs before July 1, 2015, shall be governed by the statute in effect at the time of such seizure."   Law reviews.   - For article on the 2015 amendment of this Code section, see 32 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 1 (2015).
GA Code § 40-11-22 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 11 - Abandoned, Derelict, and Civil Forfeiture of Motor Vehicles|Article 2 - Civil Forfeiture of Vehicles and Components|§ 40-11-22. Through 40-11-24

 Repealed by Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 3-25/HB 233, effective July 1, 2015.   Editor's notes.   - These Code sections were based on Code 1981, §§ 40-11-22,40-11-23, enacted by Ga. L. 1988, p. 1948, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 7-1.   Ga. L. 2015, p. 693, § 3-25/HB 233, effective July 1, 2015, renumbered former Code Section 40-11-24 as present Code Section 40-11-21.   Law reviews.   - For article on the 2015 repeal of this Code section, see 32 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 1 (2015).
GA Code § 40-13-1 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 40 - Motor Vehicles and Traffic|Chapter 13 - Prosecution of Traffic Offenses|Article 1 - Uniform Traffic Citation and Complaint Form|§ 40-13-1. Form to Be Developed by Commissioner of Driver Services; Function; Identifying Number

 The commissioner of driver services shall develop a uniform traffic citation and complaint form for use by all law enforcement officers who are empowered to enforce the traffic laws and ordinances in effect in this state. Such form shall serve as the citation, summons, accusation, or other instrument of prosecution of the offense or offenses for which the accused is charged, and as the record of the disposition of the matter by the court before which the accused is brought, and shall contain such other matter as the commissioner shall provide. Each such form shall have a unique identifying number which shall serve as the docket number for the court having jurisdiction of the accused.   (Ga. L. 1972, p. 1148, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 40; Ga. L. 2005, p. 334, § 22-1/HB 501.)   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL   Purpose of uniform traffic citation.   - Because a citation serves as the formal accusation against a convicted driver, local jurisdictions may transmit traffic ticket information electronically to the Department of Public Safety, but not as a substitute for sending the citation copy. The uniform traffic citation must also be forwarded to the department. 1991 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U91-2.    All law officers must use the uniform traffic citation  when enforcing traffic laws and ordinances. 1973 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 73-18.   Certification.   - Certification contained within the uniform traffic citation is not required to be sworn to before a judicial officer; an oath administered by a notary public is sufficient. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-5.   There is no statutory requirement for a certification as provided for by the uniform traffic citation. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-5.   Since the certification is part of the citation, it should be completed as near to the time of arrest as possible and at least prior to the filing of the citation with the clerk of court; generally, this should be done within 48 hours of the arrest. 1985 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 85-5.   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 7A Am. Jur. 2d, Automobiles and Highway Traffic, § 141. 20 Am. Jur. 2d, Courts, §§ 51, 52.   C.J.S.   - 60 C.J.S., Motor Vehicles, § 29 et seq.