Municipal Court
The West Warwick Municipal Court was created by local ordinance in 1956 pursuant to state enabling legislation (RIGL S697). The court is legally authorized to adjudicate traffic violations, all West Warwick ordinance violations and minimum housing code violations.
Court Sessions
Municipal Court sessions (arraignments & pre-trial matters) are held twice a month on the first and third Thursdays (or as noted) at 5:00 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers of the Town Hall. Trials are scheduled as needed.
Minimum Housing matters are usually heard before 5:00 pm and the hearing time will be on the summons or ticket.
- Proper attire is required and cell phones must be turned off during court
- Cash, check, money order or credit cards (MC, Visa, American Express) are accepted (There is a fee to use a credit card form of payment.)
Unless otherwise noted on the face of the summons, a summons may be paid prior to the court date, using the above payment methods.
If for any reasonable cause you are unable to appear in court as scheduled, another hearing can be assigned providing you contact the office at 401-827-9009 or 401-827-9035 in advance of your appearance date. If you fail to appear in court on the assigned date and time, your license to operate a motor vehicle may be suspended.
READ THE SUMMONS CAREFULLY. Some violations are adjudicated and payable exclusively in the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal located at 670 New London Avenue, Cranston, RI 02920.
If you do not feel you are guilty of the traffic violation, you have the legal right to plead “not guilty.” If you plead “not guilty,” you will have a brief “pre-trial conference” with the court officer to determine if there are extenuating circumstances such that the ticket can be adjudicated that day (at arraignment); otherwise, you will be given a trial date, at which time you may bring in any witnesses you may have. At that time, the officer who issued you the ticket will be present, along with any witnesses against you, and the court will hold a trial and do its best to render a fair and impartial decision.
Good Driving Statute
Rhode Island has a law called the ‘Good Driver’s’ Statute (GDS) which states that if you have had a driving record free of moving violations for the last three (3) years, you may qualify to have your ticket dismissed. To use the GDS you must come to court for the Judge to review your driving record and determine whether you qualify.
In order to qualify for the GDS, you must possess an active/valid license for the last (3) three years and your driving record must be clear of any moving violations within the last (3) three years. Please see the § R.I.G.L 31-41.1-7 for more information.
Federal law prohibits dismissal under the GDS for those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Likewise, you cannot use the GDS if the traffic ticket was issued in connection with an automobile accident.
For people who live out of state and are requesting to use the GDS, a copy of your driving record from the state that issued you your driver’s license should be brought to court.
- Obtaining True and Attested Public Driving Record from Massachusetts
- Obtaining a driving history from Connecticut
Notice of Action
If you receive a letter in the mail entitled "Notice of Action," it means you have failed to appear in court or you have failed to pay a fine for a traffic violation. If you received this letter, your license is in the process of being suspended. Please contact Municipal Court, as soon as possible, at 401-827-9009 to pay the fees due. If your license is suspended, the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal fee to reinstate your license is $151.00 in addition to fees to the municipal court.