Amendment X: Detergent Smuggling in Washington State

Laws have consequences. Laws making it harder for people to wash their dishes will drive people to evade those laws. Washington is dealing with banned chemicals coming across its borders, dishwasher detergent:

The quest for squeaky-clean dishes has turned some law-abiding people in Spokane into dishwater-detergent smugglers. They are bringing Cascade or Electrasol in from out of state because the eco-friendly varieties required under Washington state law don't work as well. Spokane County became the launch pad last July for the nation's strictest ban on dishwasher detergent made with phosphates, a measure aimed at reducing water pollution. The ban will be expanded statewide in July 2010, the same time similar laws take effect in several other states.