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Commission adopts ordinance updates on interference with sidewalks, property abandonment and definitions
Summary
Athens-Clarke County approved revisions to code sections defining 'public area,' prohibiting interference with ingress/egress, setting a warning requirement before citation, and deeming property left more than 24 hours abandoned; amendments reflect recommendations from the Right-of-Way Use Ad Hoc Committee.
The Athens-Clarke County Commission on Jan. 6 adopted text amendments to several code sections addressing conduct in public areas, definitions, and abandonment of personal property in rights-of-way.
The revised Sec. 3-5-23 (now titled "Interference with sidewalks, streets, and other public areas; prowling") defines prohibited acts (interference with ingress/egress and storing personal property), lists exceptions (medical emergency, wheelchairs, permitted events, patrons of sidewalk cafes, children in strollers, authorized employees), requires a verbal or written warning before issuing a citation for a first offense, and allows confiscation of property deemed abandoned consistent with existing procedures. The ordinance also clarifies prowling standards and procedural protections for defendants.
Companion amendments expand the definition of "public area" in Sec. 5-2-2 and replace Section 5-2-20 to declare personal property left in public rights-of-way for more than 24 hours abandoned, while allowing immediate removal of items that appear to pose a public-safety threat.
Commissioners adopted these ordinance amendments unanimously as recommended by the Right-of-Way Use Ad Hoc Committee. The ordinances include severability clauses and authorize clerical corrections by the Clerk and County Attorney.
