§ 45-2-25. City of Woonsocket — Municipal court.
(a) The city council of the city of Woonsocket may establish a municipal court and confer
upon the court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any other provisions of the
general laws, to hear and determine causes involving the violation of any ordinance,
including minimum housing ordinances, of the city 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
violations of the minimum housing ordinances or chapter 24.3, may, within seven (7)
days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court and
be 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 housing ordinance, or
of chapter 24.3, may, within seven (7) days of the conviction, file an appeal from
the conviction to the seventh division of the 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 ordinances dealing with minimum housing
or chapter 24.3 et seq. of this title dealing with housing maintenance and occupancy,
the city council may also confer upon the municipal court, in furtherance of the court's
jurisdiction, the power to proceed according to equity:
(1) To restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, or correct a violation;
(2) To order the repair, vacation, or demolition of any dwelling existing in violation;
or
(3) To otherwise compel compliance with all of the provisions of the ordinances and statutes.
(c) The city council of the city of Woonsocket is authorized and empowered to appoint
a judge of the municipal court. The city council of the city is authorized and empowered
to enact ordinances governing the personnel, operation, and procedure to be followed
in the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs and to otherwise provide
for the operation, and management of the court. The municipal court may impose a sentence
not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose a fine not in excess of five hundred
dollars ($500) or both. The court is empowered to administer oaths, compel the attendance
of witnesses, and punish persons for contempt, and to execute search warrants to the
extent search warrants could be executed by a judge of the district court.
(d) The municipal court also has original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any other provisions
of the general laws, to hear and determine violations of §§ 11-9-13 and 11-9-13.1 pertaining to the sale or delivery of tobacco products to persons under the age of
eighteen (18); provided, however, that any defendant found guilty of any offense may,
within seven (7) days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the
district court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo in accordance
with § 8-8-3.