Before House Bill 1017, a dispute between the owner of a home and a squatter was a civil matter and could take weeks or months to be decided in court. Meanwhile the landlord would have to pay the mortgage while the squatter stayed for free.
The new law makes squatting a criminal offense if the suspect cannot prove that they belong in the home within three days. The criminal citation then becomes a felony if the lease is fraudulent.
WSB reports that some departments are still trying to determine how to implement the new law, but South Fulton Police have already created a task force to root out squatters.
"All these fake leases, and I got receipts, and this, and I rented this. Nope! Nope! Nope! That's over with!" says an officer with the South Fulton Police.
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