§ 45-2-32 - Town of Charlestown – Municipal court.
SECTION 45-2-32
§ 45-2-32 Town of Charlestown –Municipal court. – (a) The town council of the town of Charlestown may establish a municipal courtand confer upon that court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any otherprovisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involving theviolation of any ordinance, including minimum housing ordinances of the townand any violation of the provisions of chapter 24.3 of this title, entitled theRhode Island Housing Maintenance and Occupancy Code; provided, however, thatany defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violations of the minimumhousing ordinances or chapter 24.3 within the jurisdiction of the court, maywithin seven (7) days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction tothe superior court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo; andprovided further, however, that any defendant found guilty of any violation ofa minimum housing ordinance or of the chapter 24.3 may, within seven (7) daysof the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the fourth division ofthe district 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 dealing withhousing maintenance and occupancy, the town council 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 the ordinances and statutes.
(c) The town council of the town of Charlestown is authorizedand empowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court. The town council ofthe town is authorized and empowered to enact ordinances governing thepersonnel, 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 of not inexcess of three hundred dollars ($300), 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.