Any person wishing permission to use either sheriff's office nomenclature or symbols may request such permission in writing to the chief deputy sheriff or other person designated by the sheriff. Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the request, the chief deputy sheriff shall serve notice on the requesting party of his or her recommendation to the sheriff on whether the person may use the nomenclature or the symbol. Within 30 calendar days after receipt of the recommendation of the chief deputy sheriff, the sheriff shall serve notice on the requesting party of the decision on whether the person may use the nomenclature or the symbol. If the sheriff does not respond within the 30 day time period, then the request is presumed to have been denied. The grant of permission under this Code section or Code Section 15-16-53 or 15-16-54 shall be in the discretion of the sheriff under such conditions as established by the sheriff.
(Code 1981, §15-16-55, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 1496, § 1.)