§ 45-2-21 - City of Cranston – Municipal court. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 45-2-21

   § 45-2-21  City of Cranston –Municipal court. – (a) The city council of the city of Cranston may establish a municipal courtand confer upon the court original jurisdiction notwithstanding any otherprovisions of the general laws to hear and determine causes the involvingviolation of any ordinance of the city including all minimum housing violationsof the city; provided, that any defendant found guilty of any offense excludingminimum housing violations within the jurisdiction thereof by the court, may,within five (5) days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction tothe superior court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo;provided, that any defendant found guilty of any minimum housing violation may,within five (5) days of the conviction, file an appeal from the conviction tothe district court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo inaccordance with §§ 8-8-3(a)(2), 8-8-3.1, and 8-8-3.2.

   (b) The city council of the city of Cranston is authorizedand empowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court and a clerk of themunicipal court. The city council of the city of Cranston is authorized andempowered to enact ordinances governing the operation and procedure to befollowed in the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs.

   (c) The municipal court may impose a sentence not to exceedthirty (30) days in jail and impose a fine not in excess of five hundreddollars ($500), or both. The court is empowered to administer oaths, compel theattendance of witnesses, and punish persons for contempt.