Rule 391-5-1-.03 - Access to Sites(1)Entrance and Hours.(a) The director shall establish for each site and facility a reasonable schedule of regular days and hours of operation to permit maximum access by the public consistent with the management and protection of the resource and the health, safety, and welfare of persons using the site. The schedule of regular days and operating hours may vary according to season.(b) Regular days and operating hours shall be posted at the entrance of each site and at appropriate facilities within the site.(c) Entering or leaving any site except through the designated entrance points is prohibited, except in an emergency.(d) No person may enter a site for the purpose of using the resources or facilities therein without paying the appropriate fee, if any, for that site or facility.(e) No person shall be allowed entry or exit before opening hours or after closing hours, except in emergency or unusual circumstances. Only those persons registered as overnight guests at a site facility shall be in the site before opening or after closing hours.(2)Closures and Public Use Limits.(a) Consistent with applicable legislation and board policy, and based upon a determination that such action is necessary for the maintenance of public health and safety, protection of environmental or scenic values, protection of natural, historic, or archaeological resources, aid to scientific research, implementation of management responsibilities, construction and maintenance activities, equitable allocation and use of facilities or the avoidance of conflict among visitor use activities, the director may:1. Limit visiting hours, impose public use limits or close all or a portion of a site to all public use or to a specific use or activity.2. Designate areas for a specific use or activity, or impose conditions or restrictions on a use or activity.3. To implement a public use limit, the director may establish a permit, registration, or reservation system.(b) In the case of emergency or unusual conditions such as severe weather, flooding, high fire danger, or other natural conditions, the disruption of utility service, failure of sanitation or treatment facilities, the need for emergency maintenance or construction activities, civil disturbances, or when the site or facility has reached its maximum capacity, the site manager or his authorized representative may, at his discretion, temporarily close the site or facility, or portion thereof, to public use until the condition is rectified.(c) Violating a closure, designation, use or activity restriction or condition, schedule of visiting hours, or public use limit is prohibited.(d) Public Notice.1. Whenever the authority of this rule is invoked to restrict or control a public use or activity, to relax or revoke an existing restriction or control, to designate all or a portion of a site as open or closed, or to require a permit to implement a public use limit, the public shall be notified by one or more of the following methods: (i) Signs posted at conspicuous locations, such as normal points of entry and reasonable intervals along the boundary of the affected site locale.(ii) Maps available in the site office and other places convenient to the public.(iii) Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected area.(iv) Other appropriate methods, such as the removal of closure signs, use of electronic media, site brochures, maps and handouts.(3)Parking Pass.(a)Parking Pass Required. No person shall park a motor vehicle on any site without purchasing and displaying a daily or annual parking pass, except as provided in this section.(b)Exceptions. The following shall be exempt for the requirement to display a daily or annual parking pass: 1. School groups, including vocational schools, colleges and universities, accompanied by one or more teachers.2. Daily lodge restaurant users.3. Individuals attending one-day conferences at lodges (not including overnight guests).4. Government, delivery, and service vehicles where the drivers or passengers are conducting business with authorized representatives of the department.5. Visitors to historic sites where admission is charged.6. Visitors for special events sponsored or co-sponsored by an outside group or community organization, at the discretion of the site manager.7. Golfers parked at golf course parking lots, where a portion of the greens fees are applied to the parking pass program.(c)Rates.1. An annual parking pass shall be available at a cost of $50.00 per year per pass, except as otherwise provided in these rules. Senior citizens (62 years of age or older) may purchase an annual parking pass at a cost of $25.00 per year per pass for vehicles with a capacity of 12 passengers or fewer, including the driver. Annual parking passes shall be available at a cost of $75.00 per year for motor vehicles with a capacity of 13 to 30 passengers, including the driver; and at a cost of $250.00 per year for motor vehicles with a capacity of more than 30 passengers, including the driver.2. A daily parking pass shall be available at a cost of $5.00 per day per motor vehicle with a capacity of 12 passengers or fewer, including the driver, except at Tallulah Gorge State Park where the daily parking pass shall be available at a cost of $5.00 per day for each motor vehicle with a capacity of 12 passengers or fewer, including the driver. In all parks, the daily parking pass shall be available at a cost of $30.00 per day for each motor vehicle with a capacity of 13 to 30 passengers, including the driver; and a cost of $70.00 per day for each motor vehicle with a capacity of more than 30 passengers, including the driver. The daily parking passes shall be valid at all sites visited on the day of purchase. Overnight guests will be required to purchase only one daily pass per vehicle which shall be valid for the duration of the uninterrupted stay.3. Georgia residents certified as disabled veterans by the commissioner of veterans service may purchase a daily pass for $3.75 or an annual pass for $37.50, when the pass is to be used for his or her own motor vehicle. Certified Georgia active duty military and veterans may purchase a daily pass for $3.75 or an annual pass for $37.50, when the pass is to be used for his or her own motor vehicle. Certified Georgia active duty military and veterans 62 years of age and older may purchase a daily pass for $3.75 or an annual parking pass for $18.75, when the pass is to be used for his or her own motor vehicle.4. Where utilized in these Rules to determine the price of a daily or annual parking pass, the capacity of a motor vehicle is determinative of size only, regardless of the number of persons actually occupying the motor vehicle at the time of purchase of the daily or annual parking pass.5. The Director is authorized to implement a program to encourage visitation and volunteer efforts at state parks by offering discounted rates on parking passes to organizations wishing to purchase significant quantities of parking passes for distribution to their members, employees, and associates. Parking passes purchased at discounted rates shall not be resold at any amount exceeding the original purchase price.(d)Purchases.1. Annual passes shall be available at all sites, division offices, and may be purchased online at the division's website.2. Daily parking passes may be purchased at collection boxes or site offices.(e)Display. All passes shall be hung from the inside rearview mirror of the vehicle. Vehicles without inside rearview mirrors shall display the pass in another place clearly visible from the exterior of the vehicle.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-5-1-.03
O.C.G.A. Secs. 12-3-9, 12-3-10.
Original Rule entitled "Access to Sites" adopted. F. June 30, 1994; eff. July 20, 1994.Amended: F. May 14, 1999; eff. June 3, 1999.Amended: F. May 5, 2005; eff. May 25, 2005.Amended: F. Apr. 29, 2009; eff. May 19, 2009.Amended: F. Dec. 14, 2010; eff. Jan. 3, 2011.Note: Correction of typographical error, deletion of subparagraph (3)(b)8., in accordance with Rule as amended and published in Official Compilation, f. Dec. 14, 2010; eff. Jan. 3, 2011, as requested by the Agency. Effective September 13, 2016.