§ 45-2-55 - Town of North Kingstown – Municipal Court.
SECTION 45-2-55
§ 45-2-55 Town of North Kingstown –Municipal Court. – (a) The town council of the town of North Kingstown may establish a municipalcourt and confer upon that court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding anyother provisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involvingthe violation of any ordinance, including, but not limited to, municipal codeviolations, animal regulation violations, minimum housing ordinances of thetown, any violation of the provisions of chapter 24.3 of this title, entitledthe "Rhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code" and, if, but only if,jurisdiction is specifically conferred by a vote of the town council, trafficand parking violations; provided, however, that any defendant found guilty ofany offense, excluding violations of the minimum housing ordinances or chapter24.3 within the jurisdiction of the court, may within seven (7) days of theconviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court and beentitled 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 second division of thedistrict court and be entitled to a trial de novo in accordance withsubdivision 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 North Kingstown isauthorized and empowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court. The judgeshall serve for a term of two (2) years, or concurrent with the term of eachappointing council. The town council of the town is authorized and empowered toenact ordinances governing the personnel, operation, and procedure to befollowed in the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs, and tootherwise provide for the operation and management of the court. The municipalcourt may impose sentences not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and imposefines not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500), or both. The court isempowered to administer oaths, compel the attendance of witnesses, and punishpersons for contempt, and to authorize and execute search warrants to theextent the warrants could be authorized and executed by a justice of thedistrict court.