§ 45-2-26 - Town of West Warwick – Municipal court.
SECTION 45-2-26
§ 45-2-26 Town of West Warwick –Municipal court. – (a) The town council of the town of West Warwick may establish a municipalcourt and confer upon the court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding anyother provisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involvingthe violation of any ordinance, including minimum housing ordinances of thetown and any violation of the provisions of chapter 24.3 of this title,entitled the Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code; provided,however, that any defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violationsof the minimum housing ordinances or chapter 24.3 within the jurisdiction ofthe court, may within seven (7) days of conviction, file an appeal from theconviction to the superior court and be entitled in the latter court to a trialde novo; and provided further, however, that any defendant found guilty of anyviolation of a minimum housing ordinance or of chapter 24.3, may, within seven(7) days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the thirddivision of the district court and be entitled to a trial de novo in accordancewith §§ 8-8-3(a)(4) and 8-8-3.2.
(b) With respect to violations of either municipal ordinancesdealing with minimum housing or chapter 24.3 et seq., of this title dealingwith housing maintenance and occupancy, the town council may also confer uponthe municipal court, in furtherance of the court's jurisdiction, the power toproceed according to equity:
(1) To restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, or correct aviolation;
(2) To order the repair, vacation, or demolition of anydwelling existing in violation; or
(3) To otherwise compel compliance with all of the provisionsof the ordinances and statutes.
(c) The town council of the town of West Warwick isauthorized and empowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court. The towncouncil of that town is authorized and empowered to enact ordinances governingthe personnel, operation, and procedure to be followed in the court and toestablish a schedule of fees and costs, and to otherwise provide for theoperation and management of the court. The municipal court may impose asentence not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose a fine not in excessof five hundred dollars ($500), or both. The court is empowered to administeroaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punish persons for contempt.