I really hate the vague laws. It means they have room to be interperated differently by different people. We have one that says reptiles must be kepted in a secured cage. The cage secured from them escaping? or from people opening them? one official says one way one the other.

Writting get it in writting.

Just because it is sold does not make it illegal at all. There are all kinds of odd exceptions and a chain often is as ignorant of the local laws as they often are of husbantry. For a big chain to be ordered to remove all of a given species takes an transfer, no big deal. It is harder for an owner to remove a beloved pet.

The law in my area does not allow garter snakes as they are native. The stores bring in 'checkered' snakes every now and again, quite illegal (checkered garter snake) the fact that animal control and DNR can't recognise the checkered from the eastern does not mean it is legal.