---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-3-164. Unlawful dissemination or use of information; obtaining sample without authority.
collection: code
id: 35-3-164
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-3-164 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-164
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-164.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-164/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t35-t36-ch1-59-(v27)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=66569db4_0#page=198
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/35-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-163.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-165.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND AGENCIES / GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION / DNA SAMPLING, COLLECTION, AND ANALYSIS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-3-164. Unlawful dissemination or use of information; obtaining sample without authority.

(a) Any person who, without authority, disseminates information contained in the data bank shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who disseminates, receives, or otherwise uses or attempts to so use information in the data bank, knowing that such dissemination, receipt, or use is for a purpose other than as authorized by law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature.

(b) Except for purposes of law enforcement or as authorized by this article, any person who, for purposes of having DNA analysis performed, obtains or attempts to obtain any sample submitted to the division for analysis shall be guilty of a felony.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-3-164, enacted by Ga. L. 2011, p. 264, § 3-1/SB 80.