SE Oakland News

State Representative Mike Harris has successfully led the House Judiciary Committee in approving a bipartisan plan aimed at addressing the issue of ticket bots. The legislation, referred to as "Change," seeks to tackle the problem of automated systems circumventing online purchase limits to acquire large quantities of event tickets for resale.

The committee unanimously voted to advance House Bills 4262 and 4263, introduced by Harris, a Republican from Waterford, and Representative Mike McFall, a Democrat from Hazel Park. These bills target the increasing issue of bots purchasing tickets for concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment. This practice was notably prevalent during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

Harris emphasized that these measures will help Michigan residents access events without having to pay inflated prices due to ticket bot operations. He stated, "These days, buying tickets for popular shows or sporting events is like navigating a ‘Labyrinth’ because of the cheaters who ‘Mastermind’ ticket bot plots."

House Bills 4262 and 4263 propose authorizing the Michigan Department of Attorney General to take legal action against those using automated bots to bypass online ticket purchasing restrictions. Violators could face civil fines up to $5,000 per fraudulently obtained ticket.

There is growing support across states for consumer protection laws against ticket purchasing bots. States such as Arizona and Iowa have already passed or are considering similar legislation. While federal law also addresses this issue, state-level bans will allow local enforcement agencies to tackle it more effectively.

The proposed bills now move forward for consideration by the entire House of Representatives.