Rhode Island General Laws Title 5. Businesses and Professions § 5-23-6. Enforcement--Penalties

(a) Upon complaint filed with the director of labor and training by any employee or any consumer, or if a minor, by his or her parent or guardian, or by the lawful collective bargaining representative of an employee, that a licensee under this chapter has violated the terms of § 5-23-2, the director shall cause the complaint to be investigated, and if satisfied that a probable violation has occurred, shall issue a complaint against the licensee with a notice for a hearing. The hearing shall be held before a hearing officer of the department of labor and training. If the director concludes on the basis of the hearing record that a violation has occurred, he or she shall issue a cease and desist order to the licensee, or he or she shall refer the complaint to the attorney general for appropriate action as provided in subsection (c) of this section. The director shall issue regulations in conformity with law and preserving the rights of due process of all parties to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(b) Every licensed or unlicensed person, firm, or corporation, including its officers and officials, who or that violates any of the provisions of his, her, or its license or the provisions of this chapter, except as set forth in subsection (a) of this section, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) for the first offense and not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each additional offense.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, suit for violation of the provisions of this chapter, praying for criminal or civil injunctive or other relief, may be instituted in the superior court by any city or town or by the attorney general.

(d) The penalty for opening and operating a business on December 25th of any year or on Thanksgiving Day, unless excepted, is, in addition to subsection (b) of this section, a fine not exceeding thirty percent (30%) of the sales or proceeds for that day.