This is how police are now enforcing Georgia’s news squatter laws following Channel 2 investigations

WSB-TV
21 May 202404:40

Summary

TLDRGeorgia has enacted tougher laws against squatters, transforming the issue from a civil to a criminal matter. The new legislation comes in response to investigative reports by Channel 2 Action News, which revealed how squatters were exploiting legal loopholes. Local police departments are now empowered to criminally charge squatters on the spot. South Fulton has established a special task force to address the issue. The law requires suspected squatters to present a lease within three days, and if the lease is found to be fraudulent, the case escalates to a felony. Additionally, the law enables not just homeowners but also neighbors and Homeowner Associations to report suspected squatters. The change aims to expedite the process of dealing with squatters, ensuring they are swiftly issued criminal citations and are no longer able to use fake leases to prolong their unlawful occupation.

Takeaways

  • 🏚️ New Law: Georgia has implemented tougher penalties against squatters, turning it into a criminal offense rather than a civil matter.
  • 🔍 Investigations: A series of investigations by Channel Two Action News exposed loopholes that squatters were exploiting, leading to the law change.
  • 👮‍♂️ Police Powers: Local police departments, including South Fulton, have gained new powers to criminally charge squatters on the spot.
  • 📜 Fake Leases: Suspected squatters have been using fake leases to claim tenancy, which the new law aims to combat.
  • 🚔 Task Force: South Fulton has created a special task force to specifically target and deal with squatters using the new law.
  • 👁️ Monitoring: The new law allows for immediate criminal citations to be issued to suspected squatters, requiring them to present a valid lease within three days.
  • 📑 Lease Verification: If the presented lease is found to be fraudulent, the case escalates from a misdemeanor to a felony.
  • 🏘️ Expanded Reporting: The new law enables not just homeowners, but also neighbors and HOAs to report suspected squatters to the police.
  • 🤔 Confusion for Renters: Some renters may be unaware they are squatting, having been deceived by companies that took their money without rightful claim to the property.
  • 🏡 Eviction and Recurrence: The script mentions a case where a suspected squatter was evicted but then appeared at another property, indicating the complexity and recurrence of the issue.

Q & A

  • What is the new law in Georgia regarding squatters?

    -The new law in Georgia imposes tougher penalties against squatters, making it a criminal offense that must be dealt with in Magistrate Court within days rather than a civil matter that could take weeks or months.

  • What was the situation before the new law was enacted?

    -Before the new law, squatters could take advantage of loopholes and police were unable to criminally charge them on the spot. Squatting was a civil matter that often took a long time to resolve through the courts.

  • How are local police departments responding to the new law?

    -Some police departments are still figuring out how to implement the new law, but South Fulton has created a special task force to pursue squatters with the authority of the new law.

  • What is the role of solicitors General and local magistrates in the new law?

    -Solicitors General and local magistrates are part of the judicial system that is now empowered to deal with squatters as a criminal matter under the new law.

  • What happened when South Fulton police used their new powers to address squatters?

    -When South Fulton police used their new powers to address squatters, the suspected squatters tried to flee and presented what the police believed to be fake leases.

  • What was the situation with Paul Call's DeKalb County home?

    -Paul Call's DeKalb County home was occupied by a suspected squatter who presented a fake lease. The police were unable to prove the lease was fake and had to leave, telling Call it was not a criminal matter.

  • What has changed for homeowners like Paul Call with the new law?

    -With the new law, homeowners like Paul Call can expect a quicker response from the police, who can now issue criminal citations to suspected squatters and deal with the matter in court more promptly.

  • What is the eviction process like under the new law?

    -Under the new law, suspected squatters are supposed to immediately be issued a criminal citation and have three days to present a lease. If the lease is fraudulent, the case can escalate from a misdemeanor to a felony.

  • Who can report suspected squatters under the new law?

    -Not just homeowners, but also neighbors and HOA members can report suspected squatters to the police under the new law, asking for an investigation into the squatter situation.

  • What happens if the people renting the homes were unaware they were squatting?

    -If the people renting the homes were unaware they were squatting and were victims of a scam, these cases would be worked out in court, where the magistrate courts will make the final decision.

Outlines

00:00

🏚️ New Anti-Squatter Law in Georgia

Georgia has implemented stricter laws against squatters following investigative reports by Channel Two Action News. The new legislation aims to close loopholes that squatters were exploiting. Consumer investigator Justin Gray explores how local police departments are utilizing their new powers to charge squatters criminally. While many departments are still figuring out the enforcement process, South Fulton has established a special task force to address the issue. The law change has empowered police to issue criminal citations on the spot to suspected squatters, as seen in a recent incident where squatters fled when confronted. Previously, police could not take immediate action against squatters presenting fake leases, leaving property owners to deal with lengthy civil court processes. The updated law mandates that squatters be dealt with in Magistrate Court within days, turning it into a criminal matter. South Fulton police have already begun visiting properties under the new law, and suspected squatters are now issued criminal citations and given a three-day window to present a lease. If the lease is found to be fraudulent, the case escalates to a felony. The law also allows anyone, not just homeowners, to report suspected squatters.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Squatters

Squatters are individuals who occupy a property without legal ownership or rights to do so. In the context of the video, squatters are taking advantage of legal loopholes to unlawfully reside in properties. The video discusses how the new law in Georgia is aimed at addressing this issue by making it a criminal offense, as opposed to a civil matter.

💡Tougher Penalties

Tougher penalties refer to more severe consequences or punishments for committing a crime or violation. The video script mentions that Georgia has implemented tougher penalties against squatters, indicating that the legal consequences for squatting have become more serious, which is part of the new law's intent to deter such behavior.

💡Legal Loopholes

Legal loopholes are gaps or ambiguities in the law that can be exploited to avoid the intended consequences of the law. The script discusses how squatters were taking advantage of such loopholes to occupy properties without legal repercussions. The new law aims to close these loopholes and provide clear legal consequences for squatting.

💡Criminal Citations

A criminal citation is a notice issued by law enforcement to an individual who has allegedly committed a crime, requiring them to appear in court. In the video, it is mentioned that under the new law, suspected squatters are to be immediately issued a criminal citation, which is a key change from the previous handling of such cases as civil matters.

💡Special Task Force

A special task force is a group formed to address a specific issue or problem. The script mentions that South Fulton has created a special task force to deal with squatters, demonstrating a proactive approach by local authorities to enforce the new law and address the issue of squatting more effectively.

💡Eviction Process

The eviction process is the legal procedure through which a landlord removes a tenant from a property. The video script refers to an eviction process involving a corporate landlord seeking to recover unpaid rent, indicating that the new law is also concerned with protecting the rights of property owners and ensuring that tenants who do not pay rent can be legally removed.

💡Fake Leases

A fake lease is a fraudulent document that falsely claims to grant the right to occupy a property. The script describes a situation where police officers were handed what they suspected to be a fake lease by a suspected squatter. The new law aims to address such fraudulent claims by making it easier to prosecute those who present fake leases.

💡Criminal Offense

A criminal offense is an act that violates the law and is punishable by the state. The video explains that under the new law, squatting has become a criminal offense, which means that those found guilty of squatting can now face criminal charges and penalties, as opposed to the previous civil penalties.

💡Magistrate Court

A magistrate court is a court that has limited jurisdiction and typically handles minor offenses and preliminary hearings. The script mentions that the new law stipulates that squatters must be dealt with in Magistrate Court, indicating a shift in how such cases are handled, with a focus on quicker resolution.

💡Unpaid Rent

Unpaid rent refers to the money owed by a tenant to a landlord for the use of a property. In the video, it is mentioned that a corporate landlord is looking to recoup $60,000 in unpaid rent, highlighting the financial impact of squatting on property owners and the importance of the new law in addressing this issue.

💡Scam Victims

A scam victim is someone who has been deceived or cheated, often financially. The script includes a case where an alleged squatter claims to be a scam victim, suggesting that some individuals may be unknowingly involved in squatting situations. The new law aims to clarify the legal standing of such cases and provide a framework for resolving them.

Highlights

Georgia's new law imposes tougher penalties against squatters.

The law was enacted following investigations by Channel Two Action News exposing squatters exploiting legal loopholes.

Consumer investigator Justin Gray is examining how local police departments are utilizing their new powers to charge squatters criminally.

Many departments are still figuring out how to implement the new law.

South Fulton has created a special task force to deal with squatters under the new law.

The new law allows police to criminally cite squatters on the spot.

Previously, suspected squatters could use fake leases to avoid immediate eviction.

The new law has shifted the handling of squatters from civil to criminal matters to be dealt with in Magistrate Court.

The law change aims to expedite the eviction process for squatters from weeks or months to a matter of days.

The new law empowers not only homeowners but also neighbors and HOAs to report suspected squatters.

Suspected squatters are now supposed to be issued a criminal citation immediately and have three days to present a lease.

If the presented lease is fraudulent, the case escalates from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Some renters were unaware they were squatting, having been scammed by a company.

The authenticity of the lease and the squatter's claims will be determined in court.

The new law aims to put suspected squatters on notice and change the dynamics of property occupation without permission.

Channel 2 Action News conducted an exclusive hidden camera investigation into squatter issues.

The story features a case where a suspected squatter, Teisha Bailey, was evicted but then found in another property nearby.

Bailey claims to be a scam victim rather than a squatter, highlighting the complexity of such cases.

Transcripts

00:00

new at five Georgia's new tougher

00:02

penalties against squatters are now the

00:04

law of the land the new law comes after

00:06

a series of channel two Action News

00:08

investigations exposed the loophole

00:10

squaders were taking advantage of Now

00:12

consumer investigator Justin Gray is

00:14

looking into how local police

00:16

departments are using their new poers to

00:18

criminally charge squatters Karen we've

00:21

been reaching out to police departments

00:22

solicitors General and local magistrates

00:25

about this to see if criminal citations

00:27

are now being written to squatters many

00:29

of the Departments tell tell us they are

00:30

still trying to figure out how all this

00:32

is going to work but South Fulton has

00:34

already created a special task force

00:37

just to go after squatters armed with

00:39

the authority of this new law I know

00:43

everybody think you can go in the house

00:44

and squat and sit that law changeed the

00:46

other day that law changed the other day

00:49

when police officers knocked on the door

00:52

of this South Fulton home this month

00:53

armed with new powers to sight squatters

00:56

criminally on the spot the suspected

00:58

squatters ran out the back door all

01:01

these fake leases and I got receipts for

01:03

this and I rented this no no no that's

01:06

over with so we're basically putting

01:07

these Quarters on notice the laws Chang

01:10

Y squ in my house it was a very

01:12

different scene earlier this spring when

01:13

police were called to Paul Call's decab

01:15

County Home they'll break in your house

01:17

and then use the law to stay in there

01:20

where is it you had the lease

01:22

man yeah you got the police police body

01:25

camera video was rolling as officers

01:27

were handed what they suspected was a a

01:30

fake lease so you got somebody with a

01:31

fake lease yeah I think the lease is

01:33

fake but you know there's no way I can

01:35

prove it so the officers just left told

01:38

Callin and the suspected squatter it's

01:40

not a criminal matter this will take

01:42

time like we we can't put you out cuz we

01:46

not here for that and uh he have to deal

01:48

with it with L courts and so they

01:50

shouldn't be in there for you know a

01:53

minute they should be you know out

01:55

immediately are you selling a squatter

01:57

home right here after an exclusive

01:59

Channel 2 Action news hidden camera

02:00

investigation and a series of viral

02:03

Channel 2 Action News squatter stories

02:05

Georgia lawmakers rewrote the law on

02:07

squatters spelling out that this is a

02:09

crime that must be dealt with in

02:11

Magistrate Court in a matter of days not

02:13

weeks or months this is no longer a

02:16

civil matter um once this law was passed

02:18

it has now became a criminal offense hi

02:20

yeah it's Justin Gray from Channel 2 are

02:22

you squatting in this home no I'm not

02:25

you're not this is one of the first

02:27

houses South Fulton police have visited

02:29

under the new La just last week they

02:31

determined the suspected squatter is in

02:33

the eviction process with the corporate

02:35

landlord who is looking to recoup

02:38

$60,000 in unpaid rent you feel like you

02:40

all can react quicker now absolutely I

02:42

think with the current law that is now

02:45

in effect we will be able to react more

02:47

proactively let's go back to Paul

02:49

callen's home Channel 2 Action News

02:51

cameras were there the day Marshalls

02:52

evicted Teisha Bailey from the house but

02:55

look what we found right down the street

02:57

a few weeks later criminal trespass

02:59

notice

03:01

decab Marshalls been evicted by the

03:03

decab Marshall's office Jane Doe evicted

03:05

here according to the paperwork but look

03:07

at the belongings see anything familiar

03:10

how about the same suitcase we notice

03:12

the luggage tag here Teisha Bailey

03:14

that's the same woman at the other Home

03:17

according to court records the alleged

03:18

squatters here claim to have been

03:20

scammed that's the same thing Teisha

03:22

Bailey says about Paul callen's house

03:24

Bailey told me in an Instagram message

03:26

that she's no squatter that she is a

03:28

scam victim who was evicted from

03:31

suspected squatter homes twice in a

03:34

month so yeah this is crazy like I Lally

03:36

spend half of my tax in here here on my

03:39

kids it's crazy because they they're

03:41

just going to find the next victim and

03:44

get out of that one but under the new

03:46

Georgia law suspected squatters now will

03:48

immediately be issued a criminal

03:53

citation all all

03:59

and so under the new Georgia law

04:01

suspected squatters are supposed to

04:02

immediately be issued a criminal

04:04

citation and have three days to present

04:06

a lease if that lease is fraudulent this

04:08

goes from a misdem meter case to a

04:10

felony another thing with the new law is

04:12

that it doesn't have to just be the

04:14

homeowner who reports this now anyone a

04:16

neighbor an HOA can call police and say

04:19

we want you to investigate this squatter

04:21

home and it looks like what you found

04:22

though was some of the people renting

04:24

the homes didn't know they were

04:25

squatting they were giving their money

04:27

to a company that was being B that with

04:30

them we see that in some cases we also

04:31

see people saying that and that is what

04:34

gets worked out in court that is what

04:36

these magist courts are going to decide

04:37

wow a lot going on Justin thanks