District 7 State Representative Joel Kretz discovered something we already knew. The Olympia Administration is so arrogant that they ignore the laws the rest of us mere citizens must follow.

Kretz wondered what was under the black plastic pots scattered around the Capitol grounds. Turns out there were no fewer than 10 ‘body gripping traps’ placed at the Governor’s Mansion and Capitol grounds. These traps were outlawed in 2000 with Initiative 713 and became law under emergency rules a few months later.

Kretz immediately informed WDFW of these illegal traps. The General Administration claimed ignorance. They didn’t know the traps were illegal and have been using them for years.

“I can’t use that excuse if I broke the law!” Kretz exclaimed. “I find it hard to believe they didn’t know about the law. This is a big issue! Every year, for the past 9 years we have had lengthy floor debates about these traps.” Indeed, in 2002, then Attorney General Christine Gregoire wrote an opinion about the use of such traps.

While farmers struggle with less effective substitutes for controlling dangerous coyotes attacking livestock, our Governor has a mole problem so it is just fine to place these traps in heavily trafficked areas of the Capitol campus. Imagine if a visiting child (or angry Senator) accidently stepped off the curb and became trapped?

Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Unless of course you are the Governor.

Update: King 5 News visited Olympia and the traps have been removed. Story at 5:30pm.