---
title: O.C.G.A. § 25-2-28. Suspected arson investigation — Power to subpoena witnesses and documents; administration of oaths; court order to compel compliance.
collection: code
id: 25-2-28
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 25-2-28 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/25-2-28
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/25-2-28.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/25-2-28/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t24-t26-(v21)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=5423edd_0#page=62
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/25-2.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/25-2-27.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/25-2-29.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: FIRE PROTECTION AND SAFETY / REGULATION OF FIRE AND OTHER HAZARDS TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY GENERALLY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 25-2-28. Suspected arson investigation — Power to subpoena witnesses and documents; administration of oaths; court order to compel compliance.

(a) The state fire marshal or the deputy state fire marshal shall have the power to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses before either or both of them, in any county in which the witness resides, to testify in relation to any matter which is designated by Code Section 25-2-27 as a subject of inquiry and to issue subpoenas to compel the production of all books, records, documents, and papers pertaining to such subject of inquiry. The state fire marshal and deputy state fire marshal may also administer oaths and affirmations to persons appearing as witnesses before them. Any person summoned shall have the right of counsel at the hearing if he desires.

(b) Should any person fail to comply with this Code section, the state fire marshal or his agent is authorized to procure an order from the superior court of the county in which the proposed witness resides, requiring compliance under the law.

## History

Ga. L. 1949, p. 1057, § 22.