Title 52, Chapter 2, Section 10
( 52-2-10)
(a)(1) The motor vehicle traffic laws for this state shall apply
to all roads within the jurisdiction of the Georgia Ports
Authority; provided, however, that the authority may determine and
declare reasonable, safe, and lawful speed limits on all roads
within its jurisdiction. (2) Those regular employees of the Georgia Ports Authority
designated as security guards shall have the power to arrest for
traffic offenses committed on any property under the jurisdiction
of the Georgia Ports Authority. (3) Such arrest may be effected by issuance of a citation,
provided the offense is committed in the presence of the arresting
security guard. (4) A citation issued by a security guard shall enumerate the
specific charges against the offender and the date on which the
offender is to appear and answer the charges. (5) If the offender fails to appear as specified in the citation,
the judge having jurisdiction of the offense may issue a warrant
ordering the apprehension of such person and commanding that he be
brought before the court to answer the charges contained in the
citation and the charge of his failure to appear as required. The
person shall be allowed to make a reasonable bond to appear on a
given date before the court. (6) Security guards shall be subject to Chapter 13 of Title 40,
relating to uniform traffic citation and complaint forms. (b) Security guards of the Georgia Ports Authority may arrest for
violations of dock related city ordinances where applicable. (c) All powers of arrest granted in this Code section shall exist
only on property under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Ports
Authority or while in hot pursuit of one whom the security guard
observed commit an offense within the jurisdiction of the authority
as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this Code section. (d) All offenders apprehended for offenses committed within the
jurisdiction of the Georgia Ports Authority shall be tried by the
appropriate city, county, or state tribunal. (e) Regular employees of the Georgia Ports Authority designated as
security guards shall not be subject to the requirements of Chapter
8 of Title 35, the "Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training
Act," nor shall said guards be subject to Chapter 38 of Title 43,
the "Georgia Private Detective and Security Agencies Act." (f) While in the performance of their duties, those regular
employees of the Georgia Ports Authority designated as investigators
or Georgia certified peace officers shall have the same powers of
arrest and the same powers to enforce law and order as the sheriff
of the county and the chief of police of the county or municipality
in this state wherein any such investigator or Georgia certified
peace officer is performing his or her duty. While in the
performance of their duties, any such investigators or Georgia
certified peace officers shall be authorized to exercise such powers
and duties as are authorized by law for members of the Uniform
Division of the Department of Public Safety. Such investigators or
Georgia certified peace officers shall be subject to the
requirements of Chapter 8 of Title 35, the "Georgia Peace Officer
Standards and Training Act," and are specifically required to
complete the training required for peace officers by that chapter. (g) While in the performance of their duties, those regular employees of the Georgia Ports Authority designated as investigators or certified peace officers of the State of Georgia shall have the right to issue citations to vehicles parked in areas not specifically designated for the parking of vehicles while on the properties of the Georgia Ports Authority's terminals. The issuance of any such parking citation shall require the person who parked said vehicle to respond by the payment of a fine in the amount of $25.00 or by appearing in the court which handles misdemeanor traffic offenses for the county in which the terminal is located, in which event the amount of the fine shall be fixed at the discretion of the judge of said court, but in no event shall the fine exceed $25.00. In addition to the right to issue parking citations, those regular employees of the Georgia Ports Authority designated as investigators or certified peace officers of the State of Georgia shall have the right to remove improperly parked cars or vehicles in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 44-1-13. |