Rhode Island § 45-2-21 - General Powers

§ 45-2-21. City of Cranston — Municipal court.

(a) The city council of the city of Cranston may establish a municipal court and confer upon the court original jurisdiction notwithstanding any other provisions of the general laws to hear and determine causes the involving violation of any ordinance of the city including all minimum housing violations of the city; provided, that any defendant found guilty of any offense excluding minimum housing violations within the jurisdiction thereof by the court, may, within five (5) 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; 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 to the district court and be entitled in the latter court to a trial de novo in accordance 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 authorized and empowered to appoint a judge of the municipal court and a clerk of the municipal court. The city council of the city of Cranston is authorized and empowered to enact ordinances governing the operation and procedure to be followed in the court and to establish a schedule of fees and costs.

(c) The municipal court may impose a sentence not to exceed thirty (30) days in jail and impose a fine 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.