On the 13 of this month I wrote about rules that were being snuck through in Kentucky as regulations, circumventing the democratic process of legislation. Apparently the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA also known as “The Rat’s Ass“) is trying a similar move of disguising their true plans. Googling about I found this interesting new WA 2007 Senate Bill 5204:
Sec. 2. RCW 16.36.050 and 1998 c 8 s 5 are each amended to read as 2 follows: It is unlawful for any person to: (1) Bring into this state for any purpose any animals without first having secured an official health certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection, reviewed by the state veterinarian of the state of origin that the animals meet the health requirements of the state of Washington.
:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 16.36 RCW to read as follows: Any person found transporting animals on the public roads of this state that are not accompanied by valid health certificates, permits, or other documents as required by this chapter or its rules has committed a class 1 civil infraction. The director is authorized to issue notices of and enforce civil infractions in the manner prescribed under chapter 7.80 RCW.
:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 16.36 RCW to read as follows:
Any person in violation of this chapter or its rules may be subject SB 5204 p. 2 to a civil penalty in an amount of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation. Each violation is a separate and distinct offense. Every person who, through an act of commission or omission, procures, aids, or abets in the violation is in violation of this chapter or its rules and may be subject to the civil penalty provided in this section. Moneys collected under this section must be deposited in the state general fund.
-WA 2007 Senate Bill 5204
The killer is that Sec. 3 which will basically destroy sales of chicks, piglets, calves, lambs, kids, etc. People won’t be able to get replacement livestock for their homesteads and small farms. No more summer pig. The section 2 above will kill sales from out of state poultry breeders, etc. All in all it’s not good for small producers.
The sponsors of this one are: Senators Rasmussen, Schoesler, Shin, Hatfield, Jacobsen and Morton; by request of Department of Agriculture
The companion Washington State House Bill is 1310. The sponsors of this one are: Representatives B. Sullivan, Hailey, McCoy, Newhouse, Haler and Kenney; by request of Department of Agriculture
So, Washingtonians, beware that NAIS is hot on your ass. Honesty in government is too much to ask. Transparency in government is too much to expect.
Everyone, watch your state legislature and regulations carefully! New keywords: health certificates, permits, certificate of veterinarian inspection.
Hat tips to Doreen & Mary
WA 2007 Senate Bill 5204 was introduced last week and was scheduled so quickly afterwards for a hearing that nobody knew about it.
The companion House Bill 1310, identical to SB 5204, is scheduled for a hearing one week from today; Thursday, Feb. 1st at 10:00 a.m. in the John L. O’Brien Building, Olympia, WA, House Hearing Room B. We need people to show up at this meeting and sign in against the bill.
Statute RCW 16.57.245 already on the books, states:
AUTHORITY TO STOP VEHICLES CARRYING CATTLE OR HORSES.
“The director (of AG) or any peace officer may stop vehicles carrying cattle or horses to determine if the livestock being transported are accompanied by a certificate of permit, inspection certificate, self-inspection certificate, or other satisfactory proof of ownership, AS DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR.
If HB 1310 & SB 5204 pass it will allow NAIS in through the back door, if the director decides NAIS is the proof you must have.
These bills allow the dept of ag to set up check points and fine you $1,000 per animal if you do not have the correct proof of ownership.
You will be forced to comply or you will not be able to use the public roads to transport your animals.
Comment Valerie — January 25, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
this would also preclude any travel what so ever…including taking a sick animal to the vet..since you have to travel to the vet to GET a health certificate…
Comment Linda Worley — January 26, 2007 @ 12:25 am
Would these new regs apply to your dog(s) or cat(s) or any other pets that you may be driving around with or friends bring into the state while visiting?
Comment John Dach — January 26, 2007 @ 12:57 am
From Apps.Leg.Wa.Gov Definitions:
Thus it appears your children are not covered, your fish and insects are not covered but your dogs, cats, kids, lambs, chicks, piglets, calves, foals, and all other animals are covered. I wonder why the exceptions for fish and insects?
Comment walterj — January 26, 2007 @ 7:25 am
So, if I was in Washington, everytime my pigmy goat (who is a pet, not one of my barn goats) wanted to go for a ride, which she does sometimes, I’d have to have papers, just to go for a ride.
When she and the dog go to the kennel (I have a kennel who boards them both for me if I go away), I’d need papers just to get her there.
If I took her up the road for a walk, I guess I’d need papers for her.
Are these people even LISTENING to themselves when they come up with this crap? Even to the average perso, this has to sound ridiculous.
If they’re worried about disease spreading, you’ve got more chance of humans spreading sickness than animals. Ever been in a school bus alone when the cold or flu is going around? And in an area school here, they’re scurrying around because some kid came down with a contageous menangitis (spelled correctly…I hope…)and now they’re trying to locate all he came in contact with.
[Not only that but the bill authorizes the WSDA to do random road blocks to check your vehicles for unregistered animals. Nazi martial law. Very Orwellian. -WJ]
Comment Kim P. — January 26, 2007 @ 8:00 am
Everyone needs to check their state legislation for a number of things. I will write an article on it later this afternoon—very short–:) and get it to you, Walter.
Comment Doreen — January 26, 2007 @ 8:22 am