§ 45-2-47. Town of Warren — Municipal court — Municipal housing court.
(a) The town council of the town of Warren may establish a municipal court and confer
upon that court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any other provisions of the
general laws, to hear and determine causes involving the violation of any ordinance;
provided, however, that any defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violations
outlined in subsection (b) of this section, may, within seven (7) days of conviction,
file an appeal from the conviction to the superior court and be entitled in the latter
court to a trial de novo.
(b) The town council of the town of Warren may establish a municipal housing 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 the zoning
ordinances of the town and any violation of the provisions of chapter 24 of this title
(the Rhode Island zoning enabling act of 1991); any violation of chapter 24.1 of this
title (the Historical Zoning Act); any violation of chapter 24.2 of this title (Minimum
Housing Standards Act); any violation of chapter 24.3 of this title (Housing Maintenance
and Occupancy Code); any violation of chapter 23 of this title (Subdivision and Land
Development Act); any violation of any local Warren ordinance or regulation enacted
pursuant to these chapters; and any violation of the provisions of chapter 27.3 of title 23 (the Rhode Island state building code); and any violation of the provisions of those
regulations promulgated by the state building code commission entitled SBC-1 Rhode
Island state building code; SBC-2 Rhode Island state one- and two-family (2) dwelling
code; SBC-3 Rhode Island state plumbing code; SBC-4 Rhode Island state mechanical
code; SBC-5 Rhode Island state electrical code; SBC-6 state property maintenance code;
SBC-8 Rhode Island state energy conservation code; and SBC-20 Rhode Island state fuel
and gas code; and provided, further, that any party aggrieved by a final judgment,
decree, or order of the Warren housing court may, within twenty (20) days after entry
of this judgment, decree, or order, file an appeal to the superior court and be entitled
in the latter court to a trial de novo.
(c) With respect to violations falling under the jurisdiction of the Warren housing court,
as outlined in subsection (b) of this section, the town council may also confer upon
the housing 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;
(3) To otherwise compel compliance with all of the provisions of those ordinances, regulations,
and statutes; and
(4) To order a dwelling into receivership and to order the removal of any cloud on the
title to the building or property that shall be binding upon all those claiming by,
through, under, or by virtue of any inferior liens or encumbrances pursuant to chapter 44 of title 34.
(d) The town council of the town of Warren is authorized and empowered to appoint a judge
and clerk of the municipal court. The town council of the town of Warren is also authorized
to appoint a judge and clerk of the housing court, who may be, but is not required
to be, the same person(s) holding the judgeship over the municipal court. The town
council 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; punish persons for contempt;
and to execute search warrants to the extent the warrants could be executed by a judge
of the district court.