I'm not surprised by that happening in Vancouver WA, they do not want ball pythons or any other large snake in the city, told to me by the animal control officer in the last 2 weeks.

Owning a ball python means $100 a year permit per snake unless you own a business license.
No breeding is allowed legally anywhere in the city limits even with a business license.

I believe there is thousands of ball pythons being illegally owned in Vancouver and hundreds of small time breeders doing so without this knowledge or they just ignore the law.