Ticket Scalping

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to take up a bill today that would, under some circumstances, legalize ticket scalping in North Carolina. The bill would allow tickets to sporting events and other entertainment to be resold at any price by Internet resellers, but only with the permission of the original sales outlet. Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, R-Cabarrus, the bill's sponsor, says putting some restrictions on Internet ticket brokers is preferable to the state's current scalping laws which are unenforceable on out-of-state companies. "The problem is that it was taking place anyway, particularly on the Internet," Hartsell said. "Right now, there is no way to monitor it." Hartsell said the legislation could prevent ticket brokers from using complex software programs to exceed ticket limits -- a common complaint of concert-goers forced to turn to the brokers for popular events.

The bill would subject brokers who violate ticket limits to lawsuits in which plaintiffs could be awarded treble damages. Internet resellers would also have to guarantee delivery and refunds in the event of cancellations. Hartsell said the major professional sports in the state, along with Lowe's Motor Speedway, favor the change. He said the bill also could help curb abuses associated with some ticket brokers. Last fall, a North Carolina woman sued ticket broker TicketNow.com after paying $1,000 for four tickets for a Miley Cyrus concert at Greensboro Coliseum. Lyn Peraldo said she was unable to buy the tickets at face value when they went on sale and blamed schemes by ticket brokers to prevent average buyers from being able to purchase the tickets. Several states -- including New York, Florida and Louisiana -- have dropped prohibitions on ticket scalping in recent years. (THE INSIDER, 7/02/08).