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Jurisdiction and Powers of the Court

as set forth in Section 4.13 of the City Charter

(1) The municipal court shall try and punish violations of all city Ordinances.

(2) The municipal court shall have authority to punish those in its presence for contempt.

(3) The municipal court may fix punishment for offenses within its jurisdiction including fine of an amount up to the maximum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment for up to a maximum of six (6) months, or both, or may sentence any offender upon conviction to labor for the city on the streets, sidewalks, squares, parks or other public places, or to do community service work for up to thirty (30) days per offense, or any combination of the foregoing.

(4) The municipal court may use the bail bond and fine schedule adopted by the City Council from time to time for the offenses specified. For any reason, whether or not appearing on said schedule, the municipal court may impose, upon conviction, a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) and imprisonment in the city jail not to exceed six (6) months and work for labor on the city public works or community service not to exceed thirty (30) days, either service not to exceed thirty (30) days, either or all or any part of either or all. Whenever a person shall give bail for his or her appearance and shall fail to appear at the time fixed for trial, his or her bond shall be forfeited by the judge. In the event that cash or property is accepted in lieu of bond for security for the appearance of a defendant at trial and if such defendant fails to appear at the time and place fixed for trial, the cash so deposited shall be, on order of the judge, declared forfeited to the city, or the property so deposited shall have a lien against it for the value forfeited, which lien shall be enforceable in the same manner and to the same extent as a lien for city property taxes.

(5) The municipal court shall have the authority to bind prisoners over to the appropriate court when it appears by probable cause that a state law has been violated.

(6) The municipal court shall have the same authority as superior courts to compel the production of evidence in the possession of any party to enforce compliance with its orders, judgments, and sentences and to administer such oaths as are necessary.

(7) The municipal court may compel the presence of all parties necessary to a proper disposal of each case by the issuance of summonses, subpoenas, and warrants which may be served and executed by any officer as authorized by the charter or by general state law. The judge of the municipal court and the Mayor are authorized to issue warrants for the arrest of persons charged with offenses against any Ordinance of the city.

(8) The judge of the municipal court shall have the same authority as a magistrate of the state court of Cobb County to issue warrants for offenses against state laws committed with the City.

(9) The municipal court is specifically vested with all of the jurisdiction and powers throughout the entire area of this city granted by general state laws to Mayor's, recorder's, and police courts and particularly by such laws as authorized by the abatement of nuisances and prosecution of traffic of traffic violations.