Features
Mich. House OKs Ticket Resales
House representatives in Michigan have approved a bill through a 70-40 vote that would make it legal to resell tickets to concerts and other events.
The state has had a scalping ban in place for decades that penalizes people for reselling tickets above face value, but critics call the policy outdated.
“It’s about decriminalizing the practice of reselling tickets,” sponsor and Rep. Tim Kelly said during a recent committee meeting, according to MLive.”It’s a 1931 law that I think has outlived its usefulness.”
Democrats, who were apparently largely against House Bill 4015, tacked on an amendment that would prevent the use of bot software to snatch up tons of tickets.
Many from the concert world have voiced their discontent with the bill as well.
The bill “is an attempt by out-of-state ticket scalpers and companies to use legislation to shape the marketplace in order to protect their profits – at the expense of Michigan sports and entertainment fans,” the Michigan Sports and Entertainment Industry Coalition wrote. “The bill would legalize ticket scalping which would make it easier for scalpers to buy up tickets and hike up prices when they resell them.
“Fans routinely purchase tickets on the resale market unaware of the original price, or that they are shopping on sites where prices often exceed face value tickets still available,” the coalition continued. “They’re also often purposely misled by language or images of an artist, venue, team, or an entertainment event to give the appearance of an official or legitimate ticket selling channel. Legalizing scalping will only make these dishonest practices worse. It is time for Michigan lawmakers to stand up for Michigan fans and protect them from ticket scalpers and out-of-state ticket brokers.”
Members of the coalition include Kid Rock, the Detroit Lions, Michigan State University and the