Sec. 2-271. - Establishment of municipal court; jurisdiction.

(a)

The city council hereby establishes a municipal court and confers upon such court original jurisdiction, notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws, to hear and determine causes involving violations of any ordinance, including minimum housing ordinances of the city and any violation of the provisions of G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3 et seq., 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 ordinance or of G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3 et seq., may, within seven 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; and provided, further, however, that any defendant found guilty of any violation of a minimum housing ordinance or of G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3 et seq., may within seven days of conviction, file an appeal from the conviction to the Sixth Division of the District Court and be entitled to a trial de novo in accordance with G.L. 1956, § 8-8-3(a)(4) and G.L. 1956, § 8-8-3.2.

(b)

With respect to violations of either municipal ordinances dealing with minimum housing or G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3 et seq., dealing with housing maintenance and occupancy, the city council also confers upon the municipal court, in furtherance of the aforesaid 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.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 2-252)