§ 45-23-59 - Administration – Violations and penalties. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 45-23-59

   § 45-23-59  Administration –Violations and penalties. – (a) Local regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter shall provide for apenalty for any violation of the local regulations, or for a violation of anyterms or conditions of any action imposed by the planning board or of any otheragency or officer charged in the regulations with enforcement of any of theprovisions.

   (b) Violation of the regulations include any action relatedto the transfer or sale of land in unapproved subdivisions. Any owner, or agentof the owner, who transfers, sells or negotiates to sell any land by referenceto or exhibition of, or by other use, a plat of the subdivision before the plathas been approved by the planning board and recorded in the municipal landevidence records, is in violation of the local regulations and subject to thepenalties described in this chapter.

   (c) The penalty for violation shall reasonably relate to theseriousness of the offense, and shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500)for each violation, and each day of existence of any violation is deemed to bea separate offense. Any fine shall inure to the municipality.

   (d) The municipality may also cause suit to be brought in thesupreme or superior court, or any municipal court, including a municipalhousing court having jurisdiction in the name of the municipality, to restrainthe violation of, or to compel compliance with, the provisions of its localregulations. A municipality may consolidate an action for injunctive reliefand/or fines under the local regulations in the superior court of the county inwhich the subject property is located.