---
title: O.C.G.A. § 40-5-72. Forwarding of suspended license, license tag, and tag registration to department.
collection: code
id: 40-5-72
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 40-5-72 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-5-72
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-5-72.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/40-5-72/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t40-ch1-5-(v28a)-2024-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=636595ac_0#page=698
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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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 / DRIVERS’ LICENSES / CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION, AND REVOCATION OF LICENSES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 40-5-72. Forwarding of suspended license, license tag, and tag registration to department.

(a) It is the duty of any person who has his or her driver’s license and, where applicable, license tag and tag registration suspended under the provisions of Code Section 40-5-70 or 40-2-137 immediately upon suspension and demand of the department to forward such items to the department.

(b) If such driver’s license and, where applicable, license tag and tag registration are not received by the department within ten days following the effective date of suspension, the commissioner shall immediately direct any peace officer to secure possession of the driver’s license and, where applicable, license tag and tag registration and return the same to the department. The person whose driver’s license and, where applicable, license tag and tag registration have been suspended shall surrender such items to any peace officer upon demand.

(c) Unless otherwise provided in this Code section, notice of the effective date of suspension shall occur when the driver receives actual knowledge or legal notice of the suspension, whichever occurs first. For the purposes of making any determination relating to the return of a suspended motor vehicle driver’s license and, where applicable, license tag and tag registration, a period of suspension under Code Section 40-5-70 or 40-2-137 or this Code section shall begin upon the date of conviction adjudicated by the court having jurisdiction.

(d) Any person violating subsection (a) or (b) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $200.00 nor more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days.

## History

Code 1981, § 40-5-72, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 4; Ga. L. 2000, p. 951, § 5-38; Ga. L. 2010, p. 143, § 9/HB 1005.

## Editor's Notes

Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 4, effective January 1, 1991, renumbered former Code Section 40-5-72 as Code Section 40-5-68 [repealed] and enacted the present Code Section 40-5-72. Former Code Section 40-5-72 related to suspension of licenses for failure to complete alcohol or drug program.