§ 45-2-46 - Towns of Burrillville and North Smithfield – Municipal court.
SECTION 45-2-46
§ 45-2-46 Towns of Burrillville and NorthSmithfield – Municipal court. – (a) The town councils of the towns of Burrillville and North Smithfield mayestablish a regional municipal court and confer upon that court originaljurisdiction, notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws, to hearand determine causes involving the violation of any ordinance, includingminimum housing ordinances of either town and any violation of the provisionsof chapter 24.3 of this title, entitled the Rhode Island Housing Maintenanceand Occupancy Code; provided, however, that any defendant found guilty of anyoffense, excluding violations of the minimum housing ordinances or chapter 24.3of this title 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 of this title, maywithin seven (7) days of conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to thesixth division of the district court and be entitled to a trial de novo inaccordance with §§ 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 dealing withhousing maintenance and occupancy, the town councils may also confer upon themunicipal 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 those ordinances and statutes.
(c) The town councils of the towns of Burrillville and NorthSmithfield are authorized and empowered to appoint a judge and clerk of themunicipal court. The town councils are authorized and empowered to enactordinances governing the personnel, operation, and procedure to be followed inthe court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs and to otherwiseprovide for the operation and management of the court. The municipal court mayimpose a fine not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500). The court isempowered to administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punishpersons for contempt, and to execute search warrants to the extent the warrantscould be executed by a judge of the district court.