---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-8-17. Misuse of Universal Product Code labels.
collection: code
id: 16-8-17
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-8-17 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8-17
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8-17.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8-17/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch7-11-(v14a)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=aecbfe9c_0#page=310
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-8.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES INVOLVING THEFT / THEFT
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-8-17. Misuse of Universal Product Code labels.

(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person who, with intent to cheat or defraud a retailer, possesses, uses, utters, transfers, makes, alters, counterfeits, or reproduces a retail sales receipt or a Universal Product Code label which results in a theft of property which exceeds $500.00 in value commits a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than three years or by a fine or both.

(2) A person convicted of a violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection, when the property which was the subject of the theft resulting from the unlawful use of retail sales receipts or Universal Product Code labels is taken from three separate stores or retail establishments within one county during a period of seven days or less and when the aggregate value of the property which was the subject of each theft exceeds $500.00 in value, commits a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years.

(b) A person who, with intent to cheat or defraud a retailer, possesses 15 or more fraudulent retail sales receipts or Universal Product Code labels or possesses a device the purpose of which is to manufacture fraudulent retail sales receipts or Universal Product Code labels shall be guilty of a felony and punished by imprisonment for not less than one nor more than ten years.

## History

Code 1981, § 16-8-17, enacted by Ga. L. 2000, p. 870, § 2; Ga. L. 2001, p. 4, § 16; Ga. L. 2012, p. 899, § 3-4/HB 1176.

## Editor's Notes

The former Code section, pertaining to the theft of motor vehicles, parts, and components, was based on Ga. L. 1916, p. 154, § 1; Code 1933, § 26-2603; Code 1933, § 26-1813, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 857, § 8.

Ga. L. 2012, p. 899, § 9-1(a)/HB 1176, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2012, and shall apply to offenses which occur on or after that date. Any offense occurring before July 1, 2012, shall be governed by the statute in effect at the time of such offense and shall be considered a prior conviction for the purpose of imposing a sentence that provides for a different penalty for a subsequent conviction for the same type of offense, of whatever degree or level, pursuant to this Act.’’

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2012 amendment of this Code section, see 29 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 290 (2012).

For note on 2000 enactment of this Code section, see 17 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 110 (2000).