The law is finding a new purpose in Forest Park, where authorities are enforcing it in an effort to prevent auto theft.

Since January, Forest Park police have ticketed 14 people for violating Georgia code section 40-6-201. The fine is $168.

Louise Wood warms up her car on cold mornings before he six-year-old son gets in the car. She was among those ticketed.

She says she was furious and pleaded ignorance of the law. And she has company; attorneys specializing in traffic violations in several jurisdictions say they were not aware of the statute.

Forest Park Police Major Chris Matson stands behind the decision to enforce the law. He says it's part of a citywide effort to cut down on the number of stolen cars.

Auto theft in Forest Park dropped by 25 percent last year, from 240 in 2005 to 180 in 2006. But Matson remains concerned. He says eleven cars left warming and unattended were stolen during the first five weeks of this year.

Police have posted fliers about car thefts around the city and placed automated calls alerting residents to the problem and the law. Officers on late night and early morning shifts patrol apartment complexes and convenience store parking lots looking for offenders.

Several months ago, Forest Park police adopted an ordinance based on the 1974 state law, which means the city gets to keep the fines instead of sharing revenue with the state.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)