§ 17. Powers pertaining to streets.

The maintenance of the public streets, roads, lanes, and highways in said municipality which constitute a part of the public roads, streets, or highways of the State of Georgia, or the county in which said municipality is located, or of the state highway department, shall not devolve upon said municipality until such time as the same may be authorized by a future express legislative enactment, expressly declaring it to be one of the duties of said municipality to maintain such roads, streets, or highways. Said municipality shall have the power and authority however to police and patrol so much of said streets, lanes, roads, and highways as are located within the corporate limits of said municipality, regulate the speed and uses of said streets, roads, lanes, and highways, preserve good order thereon, and protect life, limb and property thereon. Said municipality shall have the power to open, use, and extend its jurisdiction over all lanes, streets, roads and highways therein as are not a part of the public system of roads, streets and highways of the state, state highway department or county as aforesaid and to make all reasonable and necessary rules, ordinances and resolutions respecting the same and their control and uses. The mayor and council shall, however, have authority to grade, regrade, pave, repave, build, rebuild, or otherwise improve sidewalks within the corporate limits of the municipality along the public roads, streets, and thoroughfares therein without being under any duty to repair or maintain or improve any of that portion of such streets, roads, highways, or thoroughfares not occupied by sidewalks but devoted to vehicular traffic.

(1946 Ga. Laws, page 422)