The Senate Committee on Public Safety offered the following
substitute to HB 283:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and
traffic, so as to revise the date by which law enforcement officers shall acquire equipment
capable of verifying a driver's license issued in an electronic format; to provide for the
issuance of a refusal to sign citation; to provide for a penalty; to provide for related matters;
to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, is
amended in Code Section 40-5-29, relating to license to be carried and exhibited on demand,
by revising paragraph (4) of subsection (b) as follows:
"(4) By July 1, <del>2027</del> <ins>2032,</ins> all law enforcement officers shall acquire equipment capable
of verifying a license issued in an electronic format."
SECTION 2.
Said title is further amended in Code Section 40-13-2.1, relating to signature on citations
required, effect of failure to sign, exemption for out-of-state drivers, and electronic capture
of signature, by revising subsection (a) as follows:
"(a) A person who is issued a citation as provided in this chapter or Code Section 17-6-11,
relating to display of driver's license in lieu of bail, <del>shall</del> <ins>may</ins> sign the citation to
acknowledge receipt of the citation and of his or her obligation to appear for trial. The
officer shall advise the person that signing the citation is not an admission of guilt and that
failure to sign will result in the person having to <del>post a cash bond</del> <ins>appear for trial.</ins> If the
person refuses to sign the citation, it shall constitute reasonable cause to believe that the
person will not appear at trial and the officer <ins>shall write 'Refusal to Sign' on such citation
and shall give the citation to such person. The officer</ins> may bring the person before a
judicial officer or traffic violations bureau to post a bond as is otherwise provided by law."
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.