Bill Text: GA HB31 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Motor vehicles; traffic-control signal monitoring devices; repeal provisions
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-18 - House Committee Favorably Reported [HB31 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-HB31-Comm_Sub.html
10 LC 29
4258S
The
House Committee on Judiciary Non-civil offers the following substitute to HB
31:
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Article 2 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to traffic signs, signals, and markings, so as to change the
inference for identifying the driver in cases involving traffic-control signal
monitoring devices; to provide a form response for such citations; to provide
for the offense of submitting a false statement in a red light camera form; to
provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Article
2 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to traffic signs, signals, and markings, is amended by revising subsection (f)
of Code Section 40-6-20, relating to enforcement by traffic-control signal
monitoring devices, as follows:
"(f)(1)
As used in this subsection, the term:
(A)
'Owner' means the registrant of a motor vehicle, except that such term shall not
include a motor vehicle rental company when a motor vehicle registered by such
company is being operated by another person under a rental agreement with such
company.
(B)
'Recorded images' means images recorded by a traffic-control signal monitoring
device:
(i)
On:
(I)
Two or more photographs;
(II)
Two or more microphotographs;
(III)
Two or more electronic images; or
(IV)
Videotape; and
(ii)
Showing a traffic-control signal displaying a CIRCULAR RED or RED ARROW signal
along with the rear of a motor vehicle apparently operated in disregard or
disobedience of such signal and, on at least one image or portion of tape,
clearly revealing the number or other identifying designation of the license
plate displayed on the motor vehicle.
(C)
'Traffic-control signal monitoring device' means a device with one or more motor
vehicle sensors working in conjunction with a traffic-control signal to produce
recorded images of motor vehicles being operated in disregard or disobedience of
a CIRCULAR RED or RED ARROW signal.
(2)
Subsection (a) of this Code section may be enforced as provided in this
subsection pursuant to the use of traffic-control signal monitoring devices in
accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 14 of this title.
(3)
For the purpose of enforcement pursuant to this subsection:
(A)
The driver of a motor vehicle shall be liable for a civil monetary penalty of
not more than $70.00 if such vehicle is found, as evidenced by recorded images
produced by a traffic-control signal monitoring device, to have been operated in
disregard or disobedience of a CIRCULAR RED or RED ARROW signal in violation of
subsection (a) of this Code section and such disregard or disobedience was not
otherwise authorized by law;
(B)
The law enforcement agency authorized to enforce the provisions of this Code
section shall send by regular mail addressed to the owner of the motor vehicle
postmarked not later than ten days after the date of the alleged
violation:
(i)
A citation for the alleged violation, which shall include the date and time of
the violation, the location of the intersection, the amount of the civil
monetary penalty imposed, and the date by which the civil monetary penalty shall
be paid;
(ii)
A copy of the recorded image;
(iii)
A copy of a certificate sworn to or affirmed by a certified peace officer
employed by a law enforcement agency authorized to enforce this Code section and
stating that, based upon inspection of recorded images, the owner's motor
vehicle was operated in disregard or disobedience of a CIRCULAR RED or RED ARROW
signal in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section and that such
disregard or disobedience was not otherwise authorized by law;
(iv)
A statement of the inference provided by subparagraph (D) of this paragraph and
of the
means
evidence
specified therein by which such inference may be
rebutted. The
statement required by this division shall be printed in a format that allows the
recipient of the citation to check off one of the methods described in divisions
(i) through (iii) of subparagraph (D) of this paragraph and return the notarized
statement to the law enforcement agency. The statement shall contain a
provision notifying the recipient of the citation that any person who knowingly
and willfully makes a false statement on such form shall be guilty of the
misdemeanor offense of making a false statement on a red light camera form and
that notwithstanding Code Section 16-10-20, upon conviction, shall be punished
by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or by imprisonment
not exceeding 12 months, or both, as determined by the
court;
(v)
Information advising the owner of the motor vehicle of the manner and time in
which liability as alleged in the citation may be contested in court;
and
(vi)
Warning that failure to pay the civil monetary penalty or to contest liability
in a timely manner shall waive any right to contest liability and result in a
civil monetary penalty;
provided,
however, that only warning notices and not citations for violations shall be
sent during the 30 day period commencing with the installation of a
traffic-control signal monitoring device at such location;
(C)
Proof that a motor vehicle was operated in disregard or disobedience of a
CIRCULAR RED or RED ARROW signal in violation of subsection (a) of this Code
section shall be evidenced by recorded images produced by a traffic-control
signal monitoring device authorized pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 14 of this
title. A copy of a certificate sworn to or affirmed by a certified peace
officer employed by a law enforcement agency and stating that, based upon
inspection of recorded images, a motor vehicle was operated in disregard or
disobedience of a CIRCULAR RED or RED ARROW signal in violation of subsection
(a) of this Code section and that such disregard or disobedience was not
otherwise authorized by law shall be prima-facie evidence of the facts contained
therein; and
(D)
Liability under this subsection shall be determined based upon preponderance of
the evidence. Prima-facie evidence that the vehicle described in the citation
issued pursuant to this subsection was operated in violation of subsection (a)
of this Code section, together with proof that the defendant was at the time of
such violation the registered owner of the vehicle, shall permit the trier of
fact in its discretion to infer that such owner of the vehicle was the driver of
the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.
Evidence that
the vehicle was operated in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section
shall
Such an
inference may be rebutted if the owner of
the vehicle:
(i)
Testifies
under oath in open court or submits
Submits
to the court a
sworn
notarized statement that he or she was not the operator of the vehicle at the
time of the alleged violation
and identifies
by name the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation, if the
name of such person is known by the owner of the
vehicle;
(ii)
Presents to the court a certified copy of a police report showing that the
vehicle had been reported to the police as stolen prior to the time of the
alleged violation; or
(iii)
Submits to the court a
sworn
notarized statement
identifying
the name of the operator of
that he or she
was operating the vehicle
as part of a
funeral procession at the time of the
alleged violation
and provides
the name of the deceased
individual.
(4)
A violation for which a civil penalty is imposed pursuant to this subsection
shall not be considered a moving traffic violation, for the purpose of points
assessment under Code Section 40-5-57. Such violation shall be deemed
noncriminal, and imposition of a civil penalty pursuant to this subsection shall
not be deemed a conviction and shall not be made a part of the operating record
of the person upon whom such liability is imposed, nor shall it be used for any
insurance purposes in the provision of motor vehicle insurance
coverage.
(5)
If a person summoned by regular mail fails to appear on the date of return set
out in the citation and has not paid the penalty for the violation or filed a
police report or notarized statement pursuant to subparagraph (D) of paragraph
(3) of this subsection, the person shall then be summoned a second time by
certified mail with a return receipt requested. The second summons shall
include all information required in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of this
subsection for the initial summons and shall include a new date of return. If a
person summoned by certified mail again fails to appear on the date of return
set out in the second citation and has failed to pay the penalty or file an
appropriate document for rebuttal, the person summoned shall have waived the
right to contest the violation and shall be liable for a civil monetary penalty
of not more than $70.00.
(6)
Any court having jurisdiction over violations of subsection (a) of this Code
section or any ordinance adopting the provisions of said subsection pursuant to
Code Section 40-6-372 shall have jurisdiction over cases arising under this
subsection and shall be authorized to impose the civil monetary penalty provided
by this subsection. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the
provisions of law governing jurisdiction, procedure, defenses, adjudication,
appeal, and payment and distribution of penalties otherwise applicable to
violations of subsection (a) of this Code section shall apply to enforcement
under this subsection; provided, however, that any appeal from superior or state
court shall be by application in the same manner as that provided by Code
Section 5-6-35.
(7)
Recorded images made for purposes of this subsection shall not be a public
record for purposes of Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.
(8)
A governing authority shall not impose a civil penalty under this subsection on
the owner of a motor vehicle if the operator of the vehicle was arrested or
issued a citation and notice to appear by a peace officer for the same violation
that is recorded by a traffic-control signal monitoring device.
(g)
Any person who knowingly and willfully makes a false statement on a red light
camera form, as provided for in division (f)(3)(B)(iv) of this Code section,
shall be guilty of the misdemeanor offense of making a false statement on a red
light camera form and notwithstanding Code Section 16-10-20, upon conviction,
shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or
by imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both, as determined by the
court."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.