Everything Blane said about moving SHB regardless of restrictions is correct, but the point remains that commercial beekeepers are willing to break laws and there is no enforcement teeth. Moreover, I know of one instance where the head of the state regulatory agency has stated that he "cannot think of any circumstances that that would cause him to bring an enforcement action". In this instance, he is trying to get an inspection program made a regular budget item, rather than depend on legislative largess, and in the meantime does not want to 'rock the boat' by adverse publicity. Perhaps this selfish attitude on the part of some commercial beekeepers started back when there was a quarantine on movement due to varroa infestation and one commercial beekeeper said 'to hell with it', and moved his bees regardless. There was not only no enforcement action, but the guy was subsequently elected President of ABF! This same guy is now spreading SHB throughout the Northeast and is not particularly bashful about saying he knows his hives are infested, so nearby beekeepers should 'be prepared'. What this amounts to is that one business risk (quarantine) has been removed. Lloyd Lloyd Spear, Owner of Ross Rounds, manufacturer of comb honey equipment for beekeepers and Sundance pollen traps. http://www.rossrounds.com [log in to unmask]