Michigan Legislature Passes 'Taylor Swift Bills' to Combat Online Ticket Scalping with Bots
The Michigan legislature has passed two bills, House Bill 4262 and Senate Bill 158, aimed at addressing the issue of online ticket scalping using bots. These bills, known as the 'Taylor Swift bills,' seek to prevent the use of automated programs that bypass ticket purchase limits on platforms like Ticketmaster and StubHub. State Rep. Mike Harris and State Sen. Mary Cavanagh introduced these bills to combat the unfair advantage that bots give to scalpers in purchasing tickets for popular events.
The proposed legislation would make it illegal to use or create bots to circumvent ticket purchase limits for entertainment events in Michigan. While this practice is already prohibited under federal law, the bills aim to give the state government the authority to enforce these regulations. The Event Online Ticket Sales Act outlined in SB 158 would define the illegal activities, while HB 4262 would empower the state's Office of Attorney General to take legal action against violators, with fines of up to $5,000 per violation.
Identifying and prosecuting individuals using bots to purchase tickets is a challenging task, as many of them operate outside the state and country. By granting enforcement power to the state government, Michigan aims to crack down on bad actors targeting ticket sales within its borders. The bills received bipartisan support and passed in the final hours of the legislative session, following a period of inactivity.
State Rep. Harris believes that the bills' success was due to bipartisan negotiation and agreement on effective policy. He anticipates that Governor Gretchen Whitmer will support the legislation, given its widespread public and legislative backing. While the governor's office has not confirmed her stance on the bills, Harris remains optimistic about their chances of being signed into law.
In conclusion, the Michigan legislature has taken a significant step towards curbing online ticket scalping by passing bills that target the use of bots in purchasing event tickets. These measures aim to protect consumers and ensure fair access to popular events, signaling a proactive approach to addressing this issue in the state.