Section 27-3-48. Hunting deer at night

   (a) Any person who hunts deer at night shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500.00 and, in the discretion of the sentencing court, imprisonment for not more than 12 months.

(b) If, after July 1, 1978, a person commits and is convicted of two or more violations of hunting deer at night, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature and shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,500.00 nor more than $5,000.00, and, in the discretion of the sentencing court, by imprisonment for not more than 12 months.

(c) The fines imposed by this Code section shall not be subject to suspension, stay, or probation except that if the court finds that payment of such fine would impose great economic hardship upon the defendant, the court may order such fine paid in installments.

(d) The hunting privileges of a person found guilty of hunting deer at night shall be suspended by the court of jurisdiction for a period of not less than two years.

Ga. L. 1962, p. 671, § 1; Ga. L. 1963, p. 215, § 1; Ga. L. 1968, p. 497, § 19; Ga. L. 1973, p. 795, § 2; Code 1933, § 45-502, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 396, § 1; Ga. L. 1978, p. 816, § 41; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1629, §§ 2, 3; Ga. L. 1982, p. 1729, § 9; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1782, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2391, § 8.