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Marietta municipal court to register with state system to place registration holds for unpaid, uncontested school-bus camera violations
Summary
Court staff told council a new state statute requires municipal courts to register with the Department of Revenue to place registration holds on Georgia-tagged vehicles for uncontested, unpaid photo-enforced school bus passing violations after 90 days; holds must be released within one business day once paid.
Marietta city staff informed council that a recent change in state law requires municipal courts to register with the Georgia Department of Revenue if they will place registration holds for photo-enforced school bus passing violations that remain uncontested, unresolved and unpaid after 90 days.
The court administrator said the law directs the court to submit referrals for registration holds through the state's e-drive system and that the city must execute a registration agreement with the Department of Revenue to participate. The city has not previously placed registration holds for photo-enforced violations; the new statute uses mandatory language, "shall," rather than discretionary language, and municipal staff and the judge said they believe the city must comply.
Council members asked how the hold functions and whether out-of-state vehicles would be affected. Staff explained that the hold attaches to the tag (registration) rather than the vehicle itself; a hold prevents renewal of that registration until the violation is paid, and the court must release any hold within one business day after payment. The court will not be able to place holds on vehicles not registered in Georgia. The council moved the registration agreement forward and placed it on consent.
