It would seem the police were in violation as they pulled pots that didn't have their names on them. (ha-Ha) If the regs were taken literally, you could set whoevers pots you wanted, you just have to have the owners at the pot when pulled. I wonder if they actually have the authority to salvage pots when ever they see fit. There doesn't seem to me to be any way for them to have had probable cause to pull the pots, how could they know who was setting the pots? My conspiracy suspicious nature makes me wonder who put them up to this? The TV channel may well be interested in the story.
And P.S. The RCWs I found on this state that the proceeds from confiscated gear sales is required to be turned over to the general fund for transfer to the WDFW. I wonder where the money goes from those police auctions?