The text
(a)
The town council hereby confers on the municipal court original jurisdiction to hear and determine causes involving violations of:
(1)
Any ordinance of the town;
(2)
Minimum housing ordinances, including any violation of G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3-1 et seq., the Rhode Island Housing, Maintenance and Occupancy Code;
(3)
Any other jurisdiction conferred by state law.
(b)
Any defendant found guilty of any offense, excluding violations of such minimum housing ordinances, or G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3-1 et seq., may within seven days of such conviction, file an appeal from such 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, § 45-24.3-1 et seq. within seven days of such conviction, file an appeal from such conviction to the fourth 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 8-8-3.2.
(c)
With respect to violations of municipal ordinances dealing with minimum housing, or G.L. 1956, § 45-24.3-1 et seq., the town council hereby confers upon the municipal court, in furtherance of the aforementioned jurisdiction, the power to proceed according to equity:
(1)
To restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate or correct a violation;
(2)
To order the repair, vacating or demolition of any dwelling existing in violation; or
(3)
To otherwise compel compliance with all provisions of such ordinances and statutes.
(d)
Any defendant found guilty of an offense over which the municipal court has jurisdiction pursuant to G.L. 1956, § 8-18-3 may file an appeal as set forth in G.L. 1956, §§ 8-18-9 and 31-43-4.
(Code 1986, § 2-376)
State Law reference— Similar provisions, G.L. 1956, § 45-2-30.