---
title: O.C.G.A. § 35-3-4.3. Subpoena authority for investigating incidents of labor or sex trafficking.
collection: code
id: 35-3-4.3
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 35-3-4.3 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.3/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=109
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/35-3-4.2.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/35-3-4.4.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 / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 35-3-4.3. Subpoena authority for investigating incidents of labor or sex trafficking.

(a) In any investigation of a violation of Code Section 16-5-46 involving trafficking of persons for labor or sexual servitude, the director, assistant director, or deputy director for investigations shall be authorized to issue a subpoena, with the consent of the Attorney General, to compel the production of books, papers, documents, or other tangible things, including records and documents contained within, or generated by, a computer or any other electronic device.

(b) A provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service shall not provide notification of the subpoena issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section to the subscriber or customer of such service.

(c) Upon the failure of a person without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena, the director, assistant director, or the deputy director for investigations, through the Attorney General or district attorney, may apply to a superior court having jurisdiction for an order compelling compliance. Such person may object to the subpoena on grounds that it fails to comply with this Code section or upon any constitutional or other legal right or privilege of such person. The court may issue an order modifying or setting aside such subpoena or directing compliance with the original subpoena. Failure to obey a subpoena issued under this Code section may be punished by the court as contempt of court.

## History

Code 1981, § 35-3-4.3, enacted by Ga. L. 2011, p. 217, § 10/HB 200; Ga. L. 2018, p. 507, § 1-2/SB 336.

## Cross References

Defense available for crimes committed while being trafficked, § 16-3-6.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2011 enactment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 131 (2011).

For article, “Crimes and Offenses: Crimes Against the Person,” see 28 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 131 (2011).