Have You Been Charged with Criminal Conduct in Public Transit, Buses, Rapid Rail Cars, or Stations in Georgia?
Crimes against public health and safety range from simple misdemeanors to felonies with life in prison as the punishment. It is important to hire an attorney no matter what you have been charged with. Our attorneys have over 50 combined years of experience and are prepared to help you with your case today. There are always options no matter your situation! Remember, a charge is not the same as a conviction! Call us today.
Unlawful Acts on Public Transit Bus, Rapid Rail Car, or Bus
O.C.G.A. § 16-12-120(a) reads as follows:
A person who commits or attempts to commit any of the following acts in a public transit bus, a rapid rail car, or a rapid rail station or intermodal bus station shall be guilty of a misdemeanor:
(1) Spits, defecates, or urinates;
(2) Discards litter, except into receptacles designated for that purpose;
(3) Smokes tobacco in any form;
(4) Consumes food or beverage or possesses any open food or beverage container, provided that this paragraph shall not apply to resealable beverages in resealable plastic containers, to an operator of a public transit bus at an authorized layover point, or to a person providing food or beverage to any child under age five; provided, further, that nothing in this paragraph shall apply to a rapid rail station or intermodal bus station, unless the public transit system operating such station adopts a policy prohibiting food or beverages in such station; and provided, further, that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude a public transit system operated or funded by a county, municipality, or consolidated government from prohibiting the consumption of any beverage in a public transit bus;
(5) Plays any radio; cassette, cartridge, or tape player; or similar device unless such device is connected to an earphone that limits the sound to the hearing of the individual user;
(6) Carries or possesses any explosives, acids, other dangerous articles, or live animals, except for the following:
(A) A guide dog or service dog as described in O.C.G.A. § 30-4-2, provided that such guide dog or service dog is accompanied by a physically disabled person, blind person, person with visual disabilities, deaf person, or a person who is responsible for training a guide dog or service dog; and
(B) Small pets confined to rigid pet carriers with locks or latches;
(7) Obstructs, hinders, interferes with, or otherwise disrupts or disturbs the operation, operator, or passengers of a public transit bus or rapid rail car;
(8) Boards any public transit bus through the rear exit door, unless so directed by an employee or agent of the carrier;
(9) Remains aboard any public transit bus or rapid rail car after such vehicle has completed its scheduled route and passengers have been advised to exit the vehicle or remains aboard any public transit bus or rapid rail car after having been warned and after such vehicle has entered a garage or other restricted area not open to the public;
(10) Enters, exits, or passes through any emergency door of any rapid rail car or public transit bus in the absence of a bona fide emergency; or
(11) Enters the operator's cab or driver's seat of any rapid rail car or public transit bus in the absence of a bona fide emergency.
A person convicted under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-120(a) will be punished by a misdemeanor with a fine between $50.00 and $100.00. However, a second or subsequent conviction will result in a fine between $100.00 and $250.00, or a prison term up to ten days, or both.
Selling Goods or Soliciting Money on Public Transit, Buses, Rapid Rail Cars, or Stations in Georgia
Under O.C.G.A. § 16-12-120(a.1)(1) reads as follows:
(1) It shall be unlawful to solicit money or sell goods or services for a fee to the operator or passengers of a public transit bus or rapid rail car within the confines of such vehicle or within the paid areas of any rapid rail station or intermodal bus station without the express permission or grant of a concession by the public transportation authority or carrier.
(2) It shall be unlawful to deliver or distribute handbills or flyers of a commercial nature to the operator or passengers of a public transit bus or rapid rail car within the confines of such vehicle or within the paid area of any rapid rail station or intermodal bus station.
(3) A person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $50.00 and not more than $100.00. Upon a second or subsequent conviction, a person shall be punished by a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $250.00 or by imprisonment for not more than ten days, or both.
Georgia Defenses to O.C.G.A. § 16-12-120
There are always Georgia Criminal Defenses we can use to resolve your case. We have decades of experience defending criminal charges in Georgia. We have built relationships with police officers, prosecutors, judges, and court staff. Our lawyers know how to reach the best possible solution for your case.
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Many people plead guilty to misdemeanor charges, because they do not think it is a big deal or believe they have no other option. That is definitely not the case. Never plead guilty without first speaking with an attorney. The Lawyers at Lawson and Berry have over 50 years of criminal defense experience. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and see how we can assist you.
