Section 3-10-13. Duties of district attorneys as to investigation and prosecution of violations of chapter; duties of sheriffs

   (a) Any district attorney in a county may commence prosecution on his own affidavit against any party violating any provision of this chapter. The district attorney, upon receiving information giving him probable cause to believe that there has been a violation of this chapter, shall lay the matter before the grand jury or institute a criminal prosecution against the party by affidavit before a court or judge of competent jurisdiction, if the district attorney is willing and able to make the affidavit for the institution of a criminal prosecution. If he is not willing or able to make the affidavit and any citizen is willing to make an affidavit for the institution of a criminal prosecution against any party for the violation, the district attorney shall superintend the preparation of the papers and the institution of the prosecution, provided the district attorney is of the opinion upon the facts at hand that there is reasonable ground to believe that a conviction ought to be had.

(b) Sheriffs are charged with the duty of enforcing this chapter and cooperating with the district attorneys.

Ga. L. 1915, Ex. Sess., p. 77, § 18; Code 1933, § 58-120; Code 1933, § 5A-7110, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 1573, § 1.