---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-13-62. Failure to appear; bench warrant.
collection: code
id: 40-13-62
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-13-62 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-13-62
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-13-62.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-13-62/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch6-16-(v29)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=97c394d6_0#page=656
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/40-13.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-13-61.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-13-63.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: MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC / PROSECUTION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES / TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS BUREAUS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-13-62. Failure to appear; bench warrant.

When any person cited for a traffic violation pursuant to this article fails to appear in court on the date specified in the citation and in accordance with his written promise to appear, unless such person has posted a cash bond as provided in this article, the traffic violations bureau thereupon loses jurisdiction and the citation shall be forwarded to the prosecuting attorney of the court who shall have an accusation issued against such person. Upon motion of the prosecuting attorney, a bench warrant shall issue based on the accusation for the arrest of the defendant. The defendant’s case shall be docketed by the clerk of the court and handled as all other misdemeanors.

## History

Ga. L. 1966, p. 381, § 12; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2785, § 29.