ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS

There are many bodies of law that govern our lives, some of them overlapping with each other. These include constitutional law (both federal and state), statutory law, case law, regulatory law, and local law/city ordinances.  

Under Georgia law, cities and individual municipalities have the right to create their own set of governing laws, which are known as local and city ordinances. Georgia courts have held that crimes contained in these ordinances, though not technically misdemeanors or felonies, are not eligible for jury trials. Nonetheless, many local ordinance crimes are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.  

Although local ordinances are not necessarily as severe as misdemeanor or felony charges, they should not be taken lightly. Criminal law in Georgia is complex and its proceedings can be confusing to navigate. While every Georgia court must abide by the same state and federal laws, local rules and ordinances vary among individual counties, which may result in different standards from one jurisdiction to another.  

If you have been charged with a local ordinance violation, contact my office today for a free consultation.