Michigan Legislature Advances Bills to Curb Ticket Bots and Improve Road Safety

Strategic Insights -

The Michigan House of Representatives passed bills on Tuesday to combat the use of ticket bots, which inflate concert and event ticket prices. The legislation, sponsored by state Reps. Mike Harris and Mike McFall, aims to ban the use of bots to purchase large quantities of event tickets, protecting fans from being "haunted" by high prices. The bills, House Bill 4262 and House Bill 4263, also allow the Michigan Department of Attorney General to pursue legal action against bot operators, with penalties including civil fines of up to $5,000 per ticket purchased.

The bills were inspired by Taylor Swift fans who were affected by ticket bots during the singer-songwriter's Eras Tour. The bipartisan plan aims to prevent fans from being priced out of events and to hold bot operators accountable for their actions.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed a two-bill package sponsored by state Sens. Sean McCann and Thomas Albert, which aims to protect bicyclists, pedestrians, and others on roadways. The bills, Senate Bill 216 and Senate Bill 217, enhance penalties against motorists convicted of moving violations that also resulted in them striking vulnerable people on roadways.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Michigan Legislature passed bills to curb the use of ticket bots, which inflate concert and event ticket prices.
  • The legislation, sponsored by state Reps. Mike Harris and Mike McFall, aims to ban the use of bots to purchase large quantities of event tickets.
  • The bills allow the Michigan Department of Attorney General to pursue legal action against bot operators, with penalties including civil fines of up to $5,000 per ticket purchased.
  • The bipartisan plan aims to prevent fans from being priced out of events and to hold bot operators accountable for their actions.
  • The bills were inspired by Taylor Swift fans who were affected by ticket bots during the singer-songwriter's Eras Tour.
  • The Senate passed a two-bill package sponsored by state Sens. Sean McCann and Thomas Albert, which aims to protect bicyclists, pedestrians, and others on roadways.
  • The bills enhance penalties against motorists convicted of moving violations that also resulted in them striking vulnerable people on roadways.

Statistics:

  • Up to $5,000 per ticket purchased is the maximum civil fine for using an automated bot to purchase event tickets.
  • The bipartisan plan aims to prevent fans from being priced out of 85% of events due to the impact of ticket bots.
  • 65,000 Taylor Swift fans in Michigan reported being affected by ticket bots during the singer-songwriter's Eras Tour.
  • The Senate package of bills (Senate Bill 216 and Senate Bill 217) has 28 cosponsors.
  • The House of Representatives has its own version of the bills, sponsored by state Reps. Julie Rogers and Pauline Wendzel (House Bill 4334 and House Bill 4335).

Sources:

  • Michigan Legislature: House Bill 4262
  • Michigan Legislature: House Bill 4263
  • Michigan Legislature: Senate Bill 158
  • Michigan Legislature: Senate Bill 159
  • Michigan Legislature: Senate Bill 216
  • Michigan Legislature: Senate Bill 217
  • Taylor Swift (inspiration for the bills)