Tell them you want two males... because everted hemipenes are always a sure-er (is that even a word) sign of the sex, as opposed to seeing no hemipenes, assuming it's a female, and really the hemipenes just did not come out while being popped. It is easy to sex even baby garters, but the thing is that large dealers often are unwilling to sex such "cheap" and "common" animals. (I am quoting that from a large dealer I emailed) An experienced keeper can even get a good idea of the sex just by eyeing the tail... even on a newborn the males are pretty obvious. But I always pop them to be sure. Then I mix them all back up and pop them all over again. I get the same numbers both times... which so far.. I have! then I know I did it right :P I always pop one more time just to be SURE before I ship anything out... so far I have not had anybody come back to me and say HEY this snake is not a female! I would say if a dealer is not willing to take time out of their busy day to sex two garter snakes for you, it takes all of what, 30 seconds? Then move on... they are not worth dealing with. Tell them you will find another dealer with better customer service :P

I don't know who all you can buy from, but the only large dealer I have ever come to trust is Ben Siegel Reptiles out of Florida... everything I have ever gotten from him, including my pair of albino checkereds, was properly sexed, ridiculously fat and well fed, and usually even better than advertised. You Should see the the monster male he sent me.. from above you'd think he was a female! Little fatty needs to go on a diet :P

What kind of crazy state do you live in that has some wacked out laws saying who you can buy from? What does this law state? just curious....