---
title: O.C.G.A. § 32-6-4. Removal of natural or manmade obstructions, cargo, or personal property during state of emergency.
collection: code
id: 32-6-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 32-6-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/32-6-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/32-6-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/32-6-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t32-(v23a)-2019-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=b4b1408c_0#page=211
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.
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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: HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, AND FERRIES / REGULATION OF MAINTENANCE AND USE OF PUBLIC ROADS GENERALLY / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 32-6-4. Removal of natural or manmade obstructions, cargo, or personal property during state of emergency.

State or local law enforcement officers, including fire department officials, and the department are authorized, upon the issuance of an executive order by the Governor declaring a state of emergency, with or without the consent of the owner, to remove or have removed any natural or manmade obstruction, cargo, or other personal property which is abandoned, unattended, or damaged and the law enforcement officer or the department determines such object to be a threat to public health or safety or to be contributing to traffic congestion. Any person, contractor, towing service, or other entity that is removing an obstruction, cargo, or other personal property pursuant to the instruction of a law enforcement officer, an official of a fire department acting under the authority of paragraph (1) of Code Section 25-3-1 or paragraph (3) of Code Section 25-3-2, or the department, and under the provisions of this Code section, shall be liable for damage or harm at the location where the obstruction, cargo, or other personal property was left abandoned or unattended, only when the person, contractor, towing service, or other entity was grossly negligent in the performance of his or her assigned duties; provided, however, nothing in this Code section shall limit liability for any damage or harm caused at a location different from the location where the obstruction, cargo, or other personal property was left abandoned or unattended.

## History

Code 1981, § 32-6-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2011, p. 583, § 8/HB 137.