Go to jail for using public documents to contact owners?

[Fred Engh]

I contacted the Okanogan County Treasurer's Office (Washington State) and asked how I would be able to obtain a list of parcels/owners that were 3 years behind on their taxes. I figure if they're not paying their taxes then there's a good chance they will want to sell. There are public disclosure laws that allow for these documents (Washington has extensive public disclosure laws allowing for open and free access of public documents). They said yes (have to fill out a request), but this is what she said:

ATTENTION: RCW 63.29.350 - AMENDED 2010 "FINDERS FEE'S".

"Protects the pocketbooks of families who have lost their homes due to an inability to pay their property taxes. The NEW LAW, regulates firms and individuals who contact owners of foreclosed properties offering to obtain money remaining after the auction on their behalf. The bill places a 5% cap on such finders's fees, the same amount allowed for other kinds of unclaimed funds." Any person violating this sections is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than the amount of the fee or charge he has sought or received or contracted for, and not more than ten times such amount, or imprisioned for not more than 30 days or both.

RCW 42.56.070(9)

Requests for Public Information Limitation on Use for Commerical Purposes

Washington State law, RCW 42.56.070(9), prohibits the use of lists of individuals for commercial purposes. "Commercial purposes" means that the person requesting the record intends the list will be used to communicate with the individuals named in the record for the purpose of facilitating profit-expecting activity.

Ok, I'm not going for finder's fees so I don't think that section is applicable.

Could anyone shed some light on the second section? If I contact an owner from this list with the intent to buy their house and then sell their house, am I breaking the law?

Is the transaction once removed, meaning I personally want to buy the house (I'm not making money off of the purchase of the house, but the remodeling done). Could they seriously prosecute me for this? Has anyone heard of this?