All fines recovered under any statute of this state, the whole or any part of which may be due or payable to any city, town, or society, or to any person as complainant, shall be accounted for with the state controller, and be paid to the general treasurer. The general treasurer shall, upon the order of the state controller, pay to the city, town, society, or person so much of the amount of the fine so recovered as the city, town, society, or person may be entitled to, which order shall be drawn by the state controller whenever he or she shall receive a proper return or certificate from the clerk of the court in which the fine was imposed.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 12-21-17