---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-9-37. Unauthorized use of financial transaction card; misuse of government issued cards.
collection: code
id: 16-9-37
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-9-37 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-9-37
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-9-37.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-9-37/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=524
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/16-9.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-9-36.1.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-9-38.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
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 / FORGERY AND FRAUDULENT PRACTICES / ILLEGAL USE OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION CARDS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-9-37. Unauthorized use of financial transaction card; misuse of government issued cards.

(a) Any person who has been issued or entrusted with a financial transaction card for specifically authorized purposes, provided such authorization is in writing stating a maximum amount charges that can be made with the financial transaction card, and who uses the financial transaction card in a manner and for purposes not authorized in order to obtain or purchase money, goods, services, or anything else of value shall be punished as provided in subsection (a) of Code Section 16-9-38.

(b) Any person who has been issued or entrusted with a financial transaction card by a government for specifically limited and specifically authorized purposes, provided such limitations and authorizations are in writing, and who uses the financial transaction card in a manner and for purposes not authorized shall be punished as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 16-9-38.

## History

Code 1933, § 26-1705.8, enacted by Ga. L. 1969, p. 128, § 1; Code 1933, § 26-1705.7, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1083, § 1; Ga. L. 2015, p. 266, § 3/HB 192.

## Cross References

Limitation on elected official’s use of government issued purchasing or credit cards, § 36-80-24.