Tuesday, March 26, 2024–8;23 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

Floyd County is joining the City of Rome and the City of Cave Spring in temporarily halting new vape shops, convenience stores, and gaming machines.

The gaming machines, also known as ‘ding-ding” machines are located primarily in convenience stores.

The concern is based on one related to public safety,” said Floyd County Attorney Virginia Harman during Monday’s county commission meeting. “There have been statewide additional crimes associated with the proliferation of businesses that contain these coin-operated amusement machines.”

The machines are legal in Georgia as long as there are no cash payouts.

“The Moratorium that we would join in with the cities would be for six months while we can consider methods of addressing the problems associated with businesses in the county, as our cities are doing the same thing,” Harman added. “We plan to make a joint effort in that regard. We don’t know exactly what that would be but we will come back to you as the commission with some suggestions.”

Local governments have very little say regarding gaming machines, which are regulated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation.