Any person who has given money or any other item of value to another person due in part to such person's use of a sheriff's office nomenclature or symbols in violation of this article may maintain a suit for damages against the violator. Where it is proven that the violation was willful, the victim shall be entitled to recover treble damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorney's fees.
(Code 1981, §15-16-58, enacted by Ga. L. 1997, p. 1496, § 1.)