§ 45-2-50. Town of Exeter — Municipal court.
(a) The town council of the town of Exeter 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,
including, but not limited to, municipal code violations, animal regulation violations,
traffic and parking violations, minimum housing ordinances of the town 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 of this title within the jurisdiction of the court, 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 of this title, may within seven (7) days of conviction, file an appeal from the
conviction to the fourth 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 town 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 those ordinances and
statutes.
(c) The town council of the town of Exeter is authorized and empowered to appoint a judge
of the municipal court. The judge shall serve for a term of two (2) years, or concurrent
with the term of each appointing council. The town council of the town 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 sentences not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose fines 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
authorize and execute search warrants to the extent the warrants could be authorized
and executed by a justice of the district court.