Georgia police are taking action against squatters after the Republican-controlled government passed new protections for rental landlords.

A video report from WSB-TV showed police mocking suspected squatters who were previously able to take advantage of loopholes in the law.

Before House Bill 1017, a dispute between the owner of a home and a squatter was a civil matter and could take weeks or months to be decided in court. Meanwhile the landlord would have to pay the mortgage while the squatter stayed for free.