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LITTLE ROCK � An Arkansas law that bans ticket scalping would be
repealed under legislation prefiled Friday for the 2007 legislative
session.
The proposal by Rep. Nathan George, D-Dardanelle, comes in the wake of
alleged ticket scalping prior to the Nov. 24 LSU-Arkansas football
game at War Memorial Stadium. Police arrested eight people accused of
selling $35 game tickets for up to $400 apiece, more than 10 times
their face value.
George said he gave his LSU tickets to his niece and did not know any
of the people cited for scalping at the game. But he said the arrests
motivated him to file his bill.
�I think when you buy that ticket, that is merchandise that you own,�
he said. �I think you have a choice to do with it what you want.�
George said enforcing the law, while appreciated, was an unnecessary
distraction. Officers already overloaded with providing security
should instead focus on cracking down on ticket counterfeiters, who
also sold tickets at the game.
�That, I believe, is a real problem,� according to George, who said he
would file legislation to strengthen ticket counterfeiting penalties
if necessary.
But selling a ticket for more than face value is not a problem, it�s
the free market system at work, he said.
�It doesn�t apply to anything else in our society. We�re allowed to
buy other items and resell them for a profit,� he said, noting that no
federal law prohibits ticket scalping and the legality of the practice
varies among state laws.
Ticket scalping is legal in Arizona, for example, though regulations
prohibit sales within 200 feet of the entry to the venue or a
contiguous parking area.
Arkansas� anti-scalping law was first enacted in 1947. George said he
does not know why the law was originally enacted.
�I�m sure that it was felt that it might be some protection for the
people,� he said.
He said he is not worried that repealing the law might open the door
for ticket brokers to buy up blocks of the best seats at events and
sell them well above face value. Absent a great demand, ticket brokers
would lose money, he said.
�I still think there are plenty of tickets where if people want some
they can call the university and they can get their tickets,� he said.
Officials in the athletic department at the University of Arkansas did
not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday.
Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley said ticket scalping does not
often take place and is not much of a problem.
�I just don�t have that strong of feelings about it, quite frankly,
but I do have strong feelings that the law needs to be enforced if
it�s on the books,� he said.
Philosophically, he said, he favors the law.
�I think everybody ought to have a fair shot at admission at a
reasonable price but that�s not really a criminal law issue, that�s
just me being a social engineer,� Jegley said. �I�m not going to get
steamed one way or the other.�
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Source : http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061204/SPORTS/61204027 |
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