Introduced By: Senator McDonald
Date Introduced : April 7, 1998
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 4-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs" is hereby amended to read as follows:
4-13-1. Regulatory ordinances -- Enforcement and penalties. -- City or town councils may make such ordinances concerning dogs in their respective cities or towns as they shall deem expedient, to be enforced by the destruction or disposition of the animal, or by pecuniary penalties not exceeding ten dollars ($10.00) for the first offense, not exceeding fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the second offense within a year, not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the third and any subsequent offense within a year to be recovered by action of debt, or by complaint and warrant, to use as that city council or town council may prescribe.
Provided, however, that the city council of the city of Warwick may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided, however, that the town council of the towns of Smithfield and Scituate may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided, however, that the towns of Portsmouth and Middletown may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided, however, that the town council of the town of Tiverton may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense;
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the third and each subsequent offense.
Provided, however, that the town council of the town of Richmond may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding ten dollars ($10.00) for the first offense within one year;
A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the second offense within one (1) year of the first offense;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within one (1) year of the first offense.
The town council of the town of Smithfield is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the animal control warden in said town to issue citations which may be paid by mail to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance in that town.
The town council of the town of Portsmouth is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
The town council of the town of North Providence is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the animal control officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
The town council of the town of Bristol is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail, and to prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
The town councils of the towns of Coventry and Scituate are hereby authorized to enact ordinances permitting the dog officers in said towns to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
The town council of the town of Middletown is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
The town council of the town of Cumberland may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
The town council of the town of Cumberland is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the animal control officer or any police officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.
The town council of the town of Cumberland is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town of the impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from the pound.
Provided further, however, that the town council of the town of Barrington is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance:
(1) Permitting the animal control officer in said town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail and;
(2) To prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof or contained in the general laws to the contrary, the town council of the town of Portsmouth may, by ordinance, prescribe the number of licensed dogs which may be kept at any single family residence other than a breeding kennel licensed under section 4-13-10 and may enforce those ordinances by pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00).
Provided further, however, that the city council of the city of Newport is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance:
(1) Permitting the animal control officer, and his agents, in that city to issue citations to the owners of dogs for violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail;
(2) To prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided, however, that the town council of the town of Jamestown may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year; a fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year; a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided further, however, that the town council of the town of Glocester is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance to prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine not more than twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine not more than thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine not more than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for the third offense and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided further, however, that the town council of the town of West Greenwich is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance: (1) permitting the animal control officer in said town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail and; (2) establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and (3) prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
Provided further, however, that the town council of the town of Westerly is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance: (1) permitting the animal control officer in said town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail and; (2) establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and (3) prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:
A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year;
A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year.
{ADD Provided further, however, that the town council of the town of Narragansett is hereby authorized to enact an ordinance: (1) permitting the animal control officer in said town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail; and (2) establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town council and providing for the payment to the town impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and (3) prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows: ADD}
{ADD A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a calendar year; ADD}
{ADD A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar year; ADD}
{ADD A fine of not more than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the third and each subsequent offense within a calendar year. ADD}
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.