§ 4-13-1 - Regulatory ordinances – Enforcement and penalties.
SECTION 4-13-1
§ 4-13-1 Regulatory ordinances –Enforcement and penalties. – (a) City or town councils may make any ordinances concerning dogs in theircities or towns as they deem expedient, to be enforced by the destruction ordisposition of the animal, or by pecuniary penalties not exceeding ten dollars($10.00) for the first offense, not exceeding fifteen dollars ($15.00) for thesecond offense within a year, not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe third and any subsequent offense within a year to be recovered by action ofdebt, or by complaint and warrant, to use as that city council or town councilmay prescribe.
(b) Barrington town council is authorized to enact anordinance:
(i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town toissue citations to the owners of dogs for violation of any animal controlordinance which may be paid by mail and;
(ii) To prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for thethird and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(2) Bristol town council is authorized to enact an ordinancepermitting the dog officer in that town to issue citations to the owners ofdogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail, and toprescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for thethird and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) The Bristol town council may by ordinance prescribe thenumber of licensed dogs and their breeds which may be kept at any single-familyresidence other than a breeding kennel licensed under § 4-13-10, and mayenforce those ordinances by pecuniary penalties not exceeding two hundred fiftydollars ($250).
(3) Coventry town council is authorized to enact ordinancespermitting the dog officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of dogsfor the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
(4) Cumberland town council may prescribe pecuniary penaltiesas follows:
(A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the thirdand each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) The town council of the town of Cumberland is authorizedto enact an ordinance permitting the animal control officer or any policeofficer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violationof any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
(iii) The town council of the town of Cumberland isauthorized to enact an ordinance establishing the expense of the impoundment ofdogs as determined by the town council and providing for the payment to thetown of the impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dogfrom the pound.
(5) Glocester town council is authorized to enact anordinance to prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(i) A fine not more than twenty dollars ($20.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(ii) A fine not more than thirty dollars ($30.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(iii) A fine not more than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) forthe third offense and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(6) Jamestown town council may prescribe pecuniary penaltiesas follows:
(i) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(ii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(iii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for thethird and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(7) Middletown may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the thirdand each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) The Middletown town council is authorized to enact anordinance permitting the dog officer in that town to issue citations to theowners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
(8) Narragansett town council is authorized to enact anordinance:
(i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town toissue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal controlordinance which may be paid by mail; and
(ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs asdetermined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town of theimpoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from thepound; and
(iii) Prescribing pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) forthe third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(9) Newport city council is authorized to enact an ordinance:
(i) Permitting the animal control officer, and his or heragents, in that city to issue citations to the owners of dogs for violation ofany animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail;
(ii) To prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) forthe third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(10) North Providence town council is authorized to enact anordinance permitting the animal control officer in that town to issue citationsto the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paidby mail.
(11) Portsmouth may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the thirdand each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) The Portsmouth town council is authorized to enact anordinance permitting the dog officer in that town to issue citations to theowners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
(iii) The Portsmouth town council may, by ordinance,prescribe the number of licensed dogs which may be kept at any single familyresidence other than a breeding kennel licensed under § 4-13-10 and mayenforce those ordinances by pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-fivedollars ($25.00).
(12) Richmond town council may prescribe pecuniary penaltiesas follows:
(i) A fine not exceeding ten dollars ($10.00) for the firstoffense within one year;
(ii) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe second offense within one year of the first offense;
(iii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for thethird and each subsequent offense within one year of the first offense.
(13) Scituate town council may prescribe pecuniary penaltiesas follows:
(A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the thirdand each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) Scituate town council is authorized to enact ordinancespermitting the dog officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of dogsfor the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
(14) Smithfield town council may prescribe pecuniarypenalties as follows:
(A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the thirdand each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) The Smithfield town council is authorized to enact anordinance permitting the animal control warden in the town to issue citationswhich may be paid by mail to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dogordinance in that town.
(15) Tiverton town council may prescribe pecuniary penaltiesas follows:
(i) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for thefirst offense;
(ii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense;
(iii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for thethird and each subsequent offense.
(16) Warwick city council may prescribe pecuniary penaltiesas follows:
(i) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the firstoffense within a calendar year;
(ii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(iii) A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for thethird and each subsequent offense within a calendar year; and
(iv) A fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) forthe fourth and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(17) Westerly town council is authorized to enact anordinance:
(i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town toissue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal controlordinance which may be paid by mail; and
(ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs asdetermined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town of theimpoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from thepound; and
(iii) Prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) forthe third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(18) West Greenwich town council is authorized to enact anordinance:
(i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town toissue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal controlordinance which may be paid by mail; and
(ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs asdetermined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town of theimpoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from thepound; and
(iii) Prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) forthe third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(19) The town council of the town of Exeter is authorized toenact any ordinance prescribing fines and penalties, in addition to thoseotherwise allowed by law, as follows:
(i) Providing a fine of up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00)for the first offense;
(ii) Providing a fine of up to one hundred dollars ($100) forthe second offense; and
(iii) Providing a fine of up to two hundred dollars ($200)for the third and for any subsequent offenses within a one year period. Inaddition, the town may require proof of owners liability insurance for a twelve(12) month period insuring against injury and damages caused by the dog. Thatinsurance shall be in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) andshall name the town as a named insured for the purposes of notice.
(20) West Warwick town council may prescribe pecuniarypenalties as follows:
(i) A fine not exceeding fifteen dollars ($15.00) for thefirst offense;
(ii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense;
(iii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for thethird and each subsequent offense.
(21) Woonsocket city council is authorized to enact anordinance:
(i) Permitting the animal control office of the city to issuecitations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal controlordinance which may be paid by mail;
(ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs asdetermined by the city council and providing for the payment to the city forthe impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from thepound; and
(iii) Prescribing pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) forthe second offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150)for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(22) Pawtucket city council is authorized to prescribepecuniary penalties directly related to its ordinance banning the owning orkeeping of pit bulls in the city as follows:
(i) For a pit bull properly licensed according to the cityordinance;
(A) A fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250) forthe first offense;
(B) A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) on asecond offense;
(C) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) on athird offense.
(ii) For a pit bull that is not licensed pursuant to theexceptions in the city ordinance:
(A) A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) on afirst offense;
(B) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) on asecond or subsequent offense.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,Pawtucket may through its Municipal Court impose a sentence of imprisonment notexceeding thirty (30) days in addition to the fines in subsection (ii)(A) or(B).
(23) The Lincoln town council is authorized to prescribepecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred twenty-five dollars($125) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(ii) The Lincoln town council is authorized to enact anordinance permitting the dog officer and police officers in that town to issuecitations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance, whichcitation may be paid by mail.
(24) The East Providence city council is authorized to enactan ordinance permitting the animal control officer or any police officer inthat city to issue citations to persons in violation of any animal ordinances,which may be paid by mail, and to prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than thirty dollars ($30.00) for thefirst offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than sixty dollars ($60.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred twenty dollars ($120)for the third offense within a calendar year; and
(D) A fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300) forthe fourth offense and any subsequent offense within a calendar year.
(25) The Warren town council is authorized to enact anordinance permitting the animal control officer in the town to issue citationsto the owners of animals for violation of any animal control ordinance whichmay be paid by mail, and to prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
(A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) forthe first offense within a calendar year;
(B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for thesecond offense within a calendar year;
(C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) forthe third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.