Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 12-7 - Arrest
Section 12-7-11. - Summons.

§ 12-7-11. Summons.
(a) In any case in which a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor, he or she may issue a summons to the person substantially in the following form:

(Summons)
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
To ................................
You are hereby summoned to appear before a judge of the District Court for the ......................... Division, located at .................. in the (City)(Town) of .................. , in the State of Rhode Island, on the ....... day of .................. , 20 ..... at ........ o'clock ........ m., to answer to a complaint charging you with the crime of ........ in violation of [statute, ordinance, etc.]
If you fail to appear and answer, a warrant will issue for your arrest.
Dated at ........ the ....... day of ............... 20 .....

(b) Willful failure to appear in answer to this summons may be punished by a fine of not over fifty dollars ($50.00) or imprisonment for not over fifteen (15) days.
History of Section.G.L. 1938, ch. 625, § 68; P.L. 1941, ch. 982, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 12-7-11; P.L. 1972, ch. 169, § 16; P.L. 1977, ch. 66, § 1; P.L. 2021, ch. 77, § 12, effective June 23, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 78, § 12, effective June 23, 2021.

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