In a bid to curb the rampant use of computer bots in ticket purchasing, the Michigan House of Representatives has successfully passed legislation aimed at outlawing their use. These automated programs have been a major concern, particularly after incidents involving the mass buying of Taylor Swift concert tickets for resale at exorbitant prices.
Representative Mike Harris from Waterford described the situation as “scalping at its finest.” He emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, “We’re trying to do this to rein in the bad actors and still allow people to be able to get online, and purchase tickets for their favorite event, whether it’s a comedy show or a concert, and be able to actually enjoy things.”
While federal laws already prohibit the use of ticket bots, proponents of the Michigan-specific legislation argue that a state law would streamline enforcement. This would empower the state’s attorney general to bring cases against offenders directly in state courts, which are perceived to be more efficient and attuned to local issues.
Harris noted, “It’s a huge taxpayer burden and it’s a time consuming burden to now send our AG to federal court and navigate that process, where Michigan courts tend to be faster, they tend to be more caring to things that are happening currently in this state.”
The new bills propose a penalty of $5,000 for each ticket acquired through the use of bots. As the House moves forward, similar bills are now awaiting approval in the Michigan Senate.
For more details, the full text of the bills can be accessed here.
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