We are doing a study on our court fine fees for issued citations with our Magistrate Court. If you have these readily available for your jurisdiction, would you mind sharing? Thank you so much!

Jamie Dove

Jackson County

Jamie,

Many jurisdictions do have a fine schedule listed in their ordinances. If you folks do not all your local attorney would have to do is do an amendment mentioning what the fine(s) would be if convicted of an ordinance violation. Many jurisdictions use this scale - 1st offense ($250), 2nd ($500), 3rd ($750) and 4th ($1000) and up to 10 days in jail. For the jail part your ordinances must be criminal misdemeanors. This way too a bench warrant can be enacted for failure to appear. One other way some jurisdictions list their fines is - each violation is subject to fines up to $1000 and/or 10 days in jail. Hope this helps.

Keith

Down here in Thomasville, we don’t currently have a detailed fine schedule broken down by violation type. Our code allows for a maximum fine of up to $1,000 per violation, and if the issue continues, each day can be treated as a separate offense. Our Municipal Court typically sets fines, which can vary based on the nature of the violation and the surrounding circumstances. The judge will also take into account if they are a repeat offender and the timespan of the violation. Although the $1,000 cap is in place, the actual amount assessed is typically at the judge’s discretion. Let me know if you’d like me to send over the ordinance language or anything else to help with your study.

Chris,

The City of Grovetown's fine schedule is as follows:

It is declared to be a misdemeanor offense for any owner, agent or tenant to create or have a nuisance. Each day a nuisance is continued shall constitute a separate offense. Following five (5) days after receipt of certified written notice to the property owner, agent or tenant, a citation may be issued by the city. The maximum penalty shall be a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment for six (6) months and probation of twelve (12) months.

The penalty for a first violation of this article within five (5) years shall be a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00). The penalty for a second violation of the same provisions of this code by the same owner or tenant during a five-year period shall be a minimum fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00). The penalty for a third or repeat violations of the same provisions of this code by the same owner or tenant during a five-year period shall be a minimum fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). Fines may not be stayed, deferred or suspended. The maximum total fine for repeat violations due to a violation continuing over multiple days shall be two thousand dollars ($2,000.00).

I hope this helps...

Fine and Fee Schedule- Dougherty County Ordinances.docx

2024 CODE OF GEORGIA
Title 15 - COURTS (§§ 15-1-1 — 15-25-3)
Chapter 10 - MAGISTRATE COURTS (§§ 15-10-1 — 15-10-263)
Article 4 - VIOLATION OF ORDINANCES OF COUNTIES AND STATE AUTHORITIES (§§ 15-10-60 — 15-10-66)
Section 15-10-60 - Applicability of article; suspended sentences

(a) This article governs trials of violations of county ordinances and ordinances of state authorities, which violations may be punished by incarceration or monetary penalty. Nothing in this chapter shall grant to any county or state authority more authority to enact or enforce such ordinances than the county or state authority has independently of this chapter. The punishment imposed for any ordinance violation shall not exceed a fine of $1,000.00 or six months' imprisonment or both, provided the judge shall probate not less than 120 days of any sentence imposed, except as otherwise provided by general law, and shall not exceed the maximum punishment specified by the ordinance. In the event a sentence is revoked, a defendant shall not serve more than 60 days in a county jail.

I've attached Dougherty County's fine and fee schedule. I hope it helps

Hi,

I hope this helps:

• City of Tucker General penalty; Continuing Violations

It appears that there are other "Enforcement" Sections under different articles though.

Edited July 25, 2025 at 05:13 PMJul 25, 2025 by Cal Ford