2019 -- H 6015

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LC002466

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOG ENFORCEMENT AND

PENALTIES -- FOSTER

     

     Introduced By: Representative Michael W. Chippendale

     Date Introduced: April 24, 2019

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 4-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs" is

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hereby amended to read as follows:

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     4-13-1. Regulatory ordinances -- Enforcement and penalties.

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     (a) City or town councils may make any ordinances concerning dogs in their cities or

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towns as they deem expedient, to be enforced by the destruction or disposition of the animal, or

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by pecuniary penalties not exceeding ten dollars ($10.00) for the first offense, not exceeding

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fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the second offense within a year, not exceeding twenty-five dollars

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($25.00) for the third and any subsequent offense within a year to be recovered by action of debt,

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or by complaint and warrant, to use as that city council or town council may prescribe.

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     (b)(1) Barrington town council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of

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dogs for violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail and;

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     (ii) To prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the third and each subsequent

 

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (2)(i) Bristol town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog officer

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in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which

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may be paid by mail, and to prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (ii) The Bristol town council may by ordinance prescribe the number of licensed dogs and

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their breeds which may be kept at any single-family residence other than a breeding kennel

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licensed under § 4-13-10, and may enforce those ordinances by pecuniary penalties not exceeding

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two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

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     (3) Coventry town council is authorized to enact ordinances permitting the dog officer in

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the town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which

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may be paid by mail.

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     (4)(i) Cumberland town council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense

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within a calendar year.

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     (ii) The town council of the town of Cumberland is authorized to enact an ordinance

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permitting the animal control officer or any police officer in that town to issue citations to the

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owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.

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     (iii) The town council of the town of Cumberland is authorized to enact an ordinance

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establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town council and

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providing for the payment to the town of the impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to

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removal of the dog from the pound.

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     (5) Glocester town council is authorized to enact an ordinance to prescribe pecuniary

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penalties as follows:

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     (i) A fine not more than twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar

 

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year;

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     (ii) A fine not more than thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (iii) A fine not more than thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for the third offense and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (6) Jamestown town council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (i) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (ii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (iii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (7)(i) Middletown may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows for the violation of

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animal control ordinances on any beach within the town of Middletown:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the first (1st) offense within the

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the second (2nd) offense

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within a calendar year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for the third (3rd) and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (ii) Middletown may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows for the violation of animal

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control ordinances anywhere else within the town:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the third and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (iii) The Middletown town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog

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officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance

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which may be paid by mail.

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     (8) Narragansett town council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of

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dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail; and

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     (ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town

 

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council and providing for the payment to the town of the impoundment expense by the dog owner

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prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and

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     (iii) Prescribing pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the third and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (9) Newport city council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (i) Permitting the animal control officer, and his or her agents, in that city to issue

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citations to the owners of dogs for violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid

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by mail;

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     (ii) To prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (10) North Providence town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the

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animal control officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any

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dog ordinance which may be paid by mail.

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     (11)(i) Portsmouth may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense

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within a calendar year.

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     (ii) The Portsmouth town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog

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officer in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance

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which may be paid by mail.

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     (iii) The Portsmouth town council may, by ordinance, prescribe the number of licensed

 

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dogs which may be kept at any single family residence other than a breeding kennel licensed

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under § 4-13-10 and may enforce those ordinances by pecuniary penalties not exceeding twenty-

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five dollars ($25.00).

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     (12) The Richmond town council is authorized to enact ordinances:

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     (i) Establishing the following penalties for animal control offenses:

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     (A) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense within one year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the second offense within

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one year of the first offense;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within one year of the first offense.

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     (ii) Permitting the animal control officer or any police officer to issue citations for

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violation of any animal control ordinance punishable by a fine of five hundred dollars ($500) or

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less, and to provide for payment of those fines by mail.

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     (13)(i) Scituate town council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense

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within a calendar year.

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     (ii) Scituate town council is authorized to enact ordinances permitting the dog officer in

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the town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which

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may be paid by mail.

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     (14)(i) Smithfield town council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense

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within a calendar year.

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     (ii) The Smithfield town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the animal

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control warden in the town to issue citations which may be paid by mail to the owners of dogs for

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the violation of any dog ordinance in that town.

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     (15) Tiverton town council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

 

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     (i) A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense;

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     (ii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense;

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     (iii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense.

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     (16) Warwick city council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (i) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense within a calendar year;

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     (ii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (iii) A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year; and

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     (iv) A fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300) for the fourth and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (17) Westerly town council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of

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dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail; and

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     (ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town

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council and providing for the payment to the town of the impoundment expense by the dog owner

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prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and

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     (iii) Prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (18) West Greenwich town council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (i) Permitting the animal control officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of

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dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail; and

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     (ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the town

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council and providing for the payment to the town of the impoundment expense by the dog owner

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prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and

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     (iii) Prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

 

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (19) The town council of the town of Exeter is authorized to enact any ordinance

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prescribing fines and penalties, in addition to those otherwise allowed by law, as follows:

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     (i) Providing a fine of up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense;

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     (ii) Providing a fine of up to one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense; and

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     (iii) Providing a fine of up to two hundred dollars ($200) for the third and for any

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subsequent offenses within a one year period. In addition, the town may require proof of owners

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liability insurance for a twelve (12) month period insuring against injury and damages caused by

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the dog. That insurance shall be in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) and

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shall name the town as a named insured for the purposes of notice.

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     (20) West Warwick town council may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (i) A fine not exceeding fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the first offense;

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     (ii) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense;

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     (iii) A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense.

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     (21) Woonsocket city council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (i) Permitting the animal control office of the city to issue citations to the owners of dogs

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for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail;

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     (ii) Establishing the expense of the impoundment of dogs as determined by the city

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council and providing for the payment to the city for the impoundment expense by the dog owner

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prior to removal of the dog from the pound; and

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     (iii) Prescribing pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the second offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for the third and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (22) Pawtucket city council is authorized to prescribe pecuniary penalties directly related

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to its ordinance banning the owning or keeping of pit bulls in the city as follows:

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     (i) For a pit bull properly licensed according to the city ordinance;

 

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     (A) A fine not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first offense;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) on a second offense;

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     (C) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) on a third offense.

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     (ii) For a pit bull that is not licensed pursuant to the exceptions in the city ordinance:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) on a first offense;

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     (B) A fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) on a second or subsequent

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offense.

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     (iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, Pawtucket may through its

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Municipal Court impose a sentence of imprisonment not exceeding thirty (30) days in addition to

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the fines in subsection (ii)(A) or (B).

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     (23)(i) The Lincoln town council is authorized to prescribe pecuniary penalties as

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follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125) for the third and each

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (ii) The Lincoln town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the dog

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officer and police officers in that town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of

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any dog ordinance, which citation may be paid by mail.

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     (24)(i) The East Providence city council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting

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the animal control officer or any police officer in that city to issue citations to persons in violation

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of any animal ordinances, which may be paid by mail, and to prescribe pecuniary penalties as

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follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than thirty dollars ($30.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than sixty dollars ($60.00) for the second offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred twenty dollars ($120) for the third offense

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within a calendar year; and

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     (D) A fine of not more than three hundred dollars ($300) for the fourth offense and any

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subsequent offense within a calendar year.

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     (25)(i) The Warren town council is authorized to enact an ordinance permitting the

 

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animal control officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of animals for violation of any

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animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail, and to prescribe pecuniary penalties as

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follows:

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     (A) A fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for the first offense within a

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calendar year;

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     (B) A fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year;

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     (C) A fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the third and each subsequent

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offense within a calendar year.

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     (26)(i) The Burrillville town council is authorized to enact an ordinance:

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     (A) Permitting the animal control officer in the town to issue citations to the owners of

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dogs for the violation of any animal control ordinance which may be paid by mail; and

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     (B) To prescribe penalties for violation of the provisions of revised general ordinances,

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Town of Burrillville, Rhode Island, 2004, as amended, Chapter 4, entitled "Animals"; and

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     (C) Establishing an expense not to exceed ten dollars ($10.00) for the day during which

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impoundment occurs plus five dollars ($5.00) every day the animal is detained and providing for

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the payment to the town of the impoundment expense by the dog owner prior to removal of the

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dog from the animal control facility.

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     (27)(i) Foster town council is authorized to enact ordinances permitting the dog officer in

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the town to issue citations to the owners of dogs for the violation of any dog ordinance which

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may be paid by mail, and may prescribe pecuniary penalties as follows:

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     (A) A fine not exceeding twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first offense within a calendar

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year.

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     (B) A fine not exceeding thirty dollars ($30.00) for the second offense within a calendar

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year.

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     (C) A fine not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00) for the third and each subsequent offense

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within a calendar year.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOG ENFORCEMENT AND

PENALTIES -- FOSTER

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     This act would authorize the Foster town council to enact ordinances permitting the dog

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officer in the town to issue citations for the violation of dog ordinances.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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