About 300 new laws take effect in Georgia today. One that hasn’t gotten a lot of coverage will allow police wearing body cameras to record folks on private property without a warrant, prior notification or consent.
Senate Bill 94 was rewritten during the last legislative session to allow police wearing body cameras to keep recording even in situations where no one is accused of wrong doing.
The American Civil Liberties Union, a group that supports body cameras because the recordings keep officers honest, fought against this section of the bill saying it infringes on the rights of people in their own homes. They wanted an amendment that would require police to ask permission to record on private property but the bill passed and was signed by the governor without that provision.
Gas Tax jumps 8.5 cents
While it is being widely reported that Georgia’s new gas tax formula will result in a 6 to 7 cent-per-gallon tax increase – the truth is closer to 9 cents per gallon at current prices in Habersham County.
Yesterday, the state tax on gasoline was a combination of a 4% sales tax and a 7.5 cent per gallon excise tax. At the current average price per gallon in Habersham County ($2.45), the total state tax paid per gallon under the old system would be 17.5 cents per gallon.
Today the state tax on gasoline switched to a .26 cent excise tax per gallon, an increase of 8.5 cents at the current local gas price.
The extra money you pay in taxes will go to fix state roads and highways.
Speed-Trap Penalty
Local governments will be restricted in how much money they can get from writing speeding tickets under a new law.
Starting today, city and county law enforcement agencies will have to report to the state just how much revenue they get from speeders each year.
The previous anti-speed trap law said that an agency couldn’t get more than 40% of their budget from fines for speeding up to 17 mph above the posted limit.
Under the new law, only 35% of an agency’s revenue can legally come from fines on drivers going up to 20 mph over the limit.
Any department collecting more than 35% of their total revenue from speeders could lose their right to run radar or other speed detection devices.
Other New Georgia Laws
New laws provide victims of sexual abuse more support. The statute of limitations for prosecution on sexual cases involving children is now extended in Georgia. Abusers can now be prosecuted up until the victim reaches age 25. Child abuse victims can now sue in civil court up until they turn 53.
A new law will allow you to lease solar panels for your house. It allows private companies to own the rooftop solar panels, pay the homeowner with electricity and sell the remaining energy generated to the power company. Georgia Power plans to begin a lease program right away.
Fireworks are now legal to sell and own in Georgia. Locally you can find the new commercial-grade explosives at all Walmart stores and at North Georgia Fireworks on Highway 441 in Rabun County.
Georgia now requires that bouncers in bars have to be 21. In other words, if they aren’t old enough to drink they can’t throw you out of the bar. There are new reporting requirements for alcohol serving establishments too. They now have to report all violations for serving minors or other infractions directly to the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Folks now need a $15 state permit to transport feral hogs but the new law makes hunting them easier. You can now hunt them at night and from your car or truck. The law also includes a provision forbidding the co-mingling of feral hogs with other livestock.
