I believe the ruling for traps is if someone is unknowingly carrying it, they can bring it into the piece ward.

I believe the ruling for traps says it must be visible from all reasonable angles.

What about trapped boxes and the like? Does the trap/load have to be visible from the outside of the box? If yes that do you have to NOT have detect trap to bring it into the piece ward?

JD covered it pretty well.

The whole issue of traps in the Peace Ward is really an honor system rule.

If you bring something in that is trapped, and do not know it,
it can go off, and will cause the appropriate damage as per the effect of the trap.

Case in point : Waaaay back when, a briefcase was delivered to the Peace Ward,
to be given to The Exchequer. In point of fact, the breifcase was trapped.
The Exchequer knew how to open it - he had a key to disarm the lock.
However, if anyone had opened it, it had a to-the-room trap loaded into it.
In this case, The Exchequer could not have brought it in and set it off.
He knew about the trap. However, the soldier who delivered it, did not.
He was just a delivery-boy.

The issue at hand with the Peace Ward is :
If a trap cannot go off inside, then why not bring any loot found in the field
into the Peace Ward before examining it ?

So, we worked on this compromise measure.
It is truly an honor system rule, and I am pleased to have the faith in our players
to institute such a rule - and believe that it will be obeyed properly.

-Chris