AUGUSTA, Ga. – A new bill introduced by State Rep. Joseph Gullett (R-Dallas) aims to curb the financial reliance small cities have on revenue generated through traffic enforcement. Filed on Monday, the proposed legislation seeks to cap the amount of money a city can collect from fines and forfeitures at 10 percent of its annual budget.

Under the current system, many municipalities rely heavily on ticketing drivers for offenses like speeding and other traffic violations, generating millions in revenue. Gullett’s bill would restrict these revenues, directing any funds collected beyond the 10 percent cap into a state-managed fund. While the details of how this fund would be used have not been determined, Gullett suggests it could support crime victims or public safety initiatives.

Despite the potential revenue limitation, the bill does not prevent law enforcement from issuing tickets, provided they are related to public safety concerns. “If it’s a public safety issue, they can still write tickets because that’s important,” Gullett explained. “But they won’t financially gain from continuing to write tickets.”

Currently, Georgia law already includes a provision that allows the state to revoke the speed detection device permits of cities when ticket revenue from speeding violations exceeds 35 percent of a police department’s budget. However, this cap only applies to speeding-related fines, leaving other types of traffic violations—such as tickets for tinted windows or obscured license plates—unregulated in terms of revenue generation. Gullett’s bill aims to close this loophole and ensure cities do not rely excessively on fines for their budgets.

“I want people to understand the police are there to do the right thing, and your government works for you and it’s not a profit center,” Gullett stated.

The proposal has sparked discussion among law enforcement officials. The Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police acknowledged that there is room for improvement in addressing concerns about law enforcement practices tied to profit. However, they did not immediately endorse the legislation.

“Let’s deal with the bad actors abusing the system as opposed to restricting everyone,” said Butch Ayers, executive director of the association.

Gullett has emphasized that his bill is not intended to be a critique of policing in general. He pointed out his long-standing support for law enforcement, including his role as past president of Paulding Public Safety Appreciation, a nonprofit that supports first responders. In 2024, the organization donated more than $250,000 to assist first responders in need.

As the bill moves forward, it will likely continue to spark debates about the balance between public safety and the financial incentives that sometimes shape law enforcement priorities.