R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-11-14

Whenever complaint is made to any justice or clerk of a district court within his or her district that any person within the district is selling or offering for sale any article contrary to the provisions of § 5-11-18, the justice or clerk shall examine the complainant under oath, reduce his or her complaint to writing, and sign the complaint. If the complainant then enters into a recognizance in a sum not exceeding fifty dollars ($50.00), with any surety that the justice or clerk directs and approves, to prosecute the complaint to final judgment with effect, or in default of the judgment to pay the costs that may accrue on it, the justice or clerk shall issue a warrant to seize the article or articles offered for sale, together with all prohibited merchandise then in the immediate possession of the person complained of, with the packs, packages, carriage and horse or other vehicle, in which those articles have been transported; and to summon the person to appear before the district court and show cause why all the property shall not be adjudged forfeited. If, upon trial, it appears that the complaint is true, then the seized property shall be forfeited.