§ 12-21-4. Jurisdiction of district and superior courts.
All fines, penalties, and forfeitures, whether of money or property, of five hundred dollars ($500) and under or of the value of five hundred dollars ($500) and under, shall be prosecuted before a district court; if upwards of five hundred dollars ($500) in amount or value, before the superior court, unless otherwise specially provided.
History of Section.G.L. 1896, ch. 288, § 4; C.P.A. 1905, §§ 1216, 1231; G.L. 1909, ch. 357, § 4; G.L. 1923, ch. 410, § 4; G.L. 1938, ch. 631, § 4; G.L. 1956, § 12-21-4.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 12-21 - Recovery of Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures
Section 12-21-1. - Methods of recovering fines and forfeitures.
Section 12-21-2. - Limitation of prosecutions.
Section 12-21-3. - Venue of actions based on penal statutes.
Section 12-21-4. - Jurisdiction of district and superior courts.
Section 12-21-5. - Action by town or city.
Section 12-21-6. - Commencement of period of neglect.
Section 12-21-7. - Residence of court member in city or town to be benefited.
Section 12-21-8. - Plea of general issue.
Section 12-21-9. - Commitment for failure to obey judgment or sentence.
Section 12-21-10. - Disposition of recoveries.
Section 12-21-11. - Quarterly reports and payments by district court.
Section 12-21-12. - Payment of costs taxable to cities or towns out of fines due.
Section 12-21-13. - Accounting by clerk on vacation of office.
Section 12-21-14. - Forfeiture for failure to account.
Section 12-21-15. - Access of city or town treasurer to district court records.
Section 12-21-16. - Payment of amounts due to the state.
Section 12-21-17. - Payment and accounting for fines due other than to state.
Section 12-21-18. - Payment of fine liquidated by labor.
Section 12-21-19. - Payment of fines to general treasurer — Accounting.
Section 12-21-20. - Order to pay costs and determination of ability to pay.
Section 12-21-21. - Guilty plea and payment of fine by person outside state.
Section 12-21-23. - Seizure and retention of forfeited property.
Section 12-21-24. - Complaint or information asking forfeiture.
Section 12-21-25. - Issuance of warrant to take and detain forfeited property.
Section 12-21-26. - Notice of complaint or information.
Section 12-21-27. - Sale of property pending judgment on forfeiture.
Section 12-21-28. - Return of property to claimant on bond.
Section 12-21-29. - Trial and judgment.
Section 12-21-30. - Appeal from district court judgment of forfeiture.
Section 12-21-31. - Finality of superior court judgment.