§ 45-2-50 - Town of Exeter – Municipal court.
SECTION 45-2-50
§ 45-2-50 Town of Exeter – Municipalcourt. – (a) The town council of the town of Exeter may establish a municipal court andconfer upon that court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any otherprovisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involving theviolation of any ordinance, including, but not limited to, municipal codeviolations, animal regulation violations, traffic and parking violations,minimum housing ordinances of the town and any violation of the provisions ofchapter 24.3 of this title, entitled the "Rhode Island Housing Maintenance andOccupancy Code"; provided, however, that any defendant found guilty of anyoffense, excluding violations of the minimum housing ordinances or chapter 24.3of this title within the jurisdiction of the court, may within seven (7) daysof the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court andbe entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo; and provided further,however, that any defendant found guilty of any violation of a minimum housingordinance or of chapter 24.3 of this title, may within seven (7) days ofconviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the fourth division of thedistrict court and be entitled to a trial de novo in accordance 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 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 those ordinances and statutes.
(c) The town council of the town of Exeter is authorized andempowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court. The judge shall serve fora term of two (2) years, or concurrent with the term of each appointingcouncil. The town council of the town is 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 sentences not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose fines not inexcess of five hundred dollars ($500), or both. The court is empowered toadminister oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punish persons forcontempt, and to authorize and execute search warrants to the extent thewarrants could be authorized and executed by a justice of the district court.