Columbus law enforcement officials react to new squatters legislation passed in Georgia

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed legislation to help crack down on illegal squatting in the state of Georgia.

The top local law enforcement officials in Columbus hope the new law will help them police the problem.

“This legislation needed to be done many many years ago,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “We are going to follow the letter of the law.”

Georgia House Bill 1017 states, “A person commits the offense of unlawful squatting when he or she enters upon the land or premises of another and resides on such land or premises for any period of time knowingly acting without the knowledge or consent of the owner, rightful occupant, or an authorized representative of the owner.”

Countryman said there used to be issues across Georgia regarding sovereign citizens taking over and seizing property and businesses.

Countryman said it would take months if not years for some homeowners to get their property back. He said, “The squatters had more power than the property owners.”

He said the new legislation gives the property owner power and gives law enforcement power to give the person a three day notice to provide a lease.

Countryman said, “I don’t see this as a bill that would harm us in overcrowding the jail, it would help us to enforce the law.”

“I would rather be able to give someone back their home and let them enjoy the quality of life that they’ve worked for than for them to have to go and live with family while someone else is living it up in their house, listening to their music, watching their TV, sleeping in their bed,” said Countryman.

While the responsibilities for this legislation fall to the sheriff’s office they will not be the only law enforcement responding to 911 calls for squatters.

Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis said a police officer may respond to a 911 call regarding squatters. He said a responding officer will take the information, document the information, and contact the sheriff’s office and the courts.

At that point the Sheriff’s office would take over. “It streamlines the process because it gives the sheriff a little bit more legal right to very expeditiously get the squatters out of the location,” said Mathis.

“I believe the more the squatters hear about this legislation, the faster the sheriff can get the people vacated from the property. Eventually I think it’s going to be a non-issue,” said Mathis.

What the new law says

Under the new legislation, any person who commits or is accused of committing the offense of squatting would have three business days after receiving a citation to provide properly executed documentation that authorizes their entry on the land or premises to the head of the issuing law enforcement agency.

Anyone who is unable to provide documentation (or provides documentation that is not meritorious or not properly executed) and convicted and found in violation of this ordinance will be found guilty of a misdemeanor, according to the legislation.

Those who do submit documentation would have a hearing set within seven days of the documentation, according to the legislation.

The legislation allows the court to award the plaintiff the fair market value rent for the duration of the party’s occupancy.