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Lawmakers sent the governor a bill that would overturn the state's
ticket-scalping ban.
BY JENNIFER MOONEY PIEDRA |
TALLAHASSEE - Scalping tickets to sporting events and concerts has
been illegal in Florida going back to the time the University of Miami
won its first Orange Bowl title -- and that was more than 60 years
ago.
Monday, the Legislature said no more: It sent the governor a bill that
allows Floridians to resell their tickets for any price they want, if
they use websites that offer consumer protections. And even scalpers
at the gate will get a break. They can sell their tickets for 25
percent over face value.
A spokeswoman for the governor said he's ''supportive'' of the
measure, though he has yet to review it.
Under the proposal, Floridians would be able to resell tickets to
sporting events, concerts and theater shows at any price on authorized
websites that offer consumer protection guarantees, such as full
refunds for canceled events.
Current law, put in place in 1945, bans tickets from being resold for
more than $1 over face value.
The Senate voted 37-1 on Monday giving final approval to the
legislation, which cleared the House last week.
`LONG OVERDUE'
''I think it's time that our scalping law reflects what the changes
are in technology,'' said Marcelo Llorente, a Miami Republican who
sponsored the House version. ``This is long overdue.''
The Internet has become a hot spot for ticket sales on websites such
as e-Bay and StubHub.
Realizing the popularity of the online marketplace and the dangers of
fraud, lawmakers wanted to offer consumers a safer -- and legal -- way
to sell event tickets.
Supporters of the change say the state needs to follow the lead of
dozens of other states that do not regulate ticket sales.
''It's just a matter of equality,'' said state Sen. Mike Bennett, the
Bradenton Republican who filed the Senate version of the bill. ``This
is already done on the Internet. We need to make a level playing
field.''
Today, anyone caught selling an admission ticket for more than $1 over
its original selling price can be charged with a second-degree
misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail.
The proposal would allow anyone to post their tickets on authorized
websites, such as Ticketmaster, and resell them for any price.
NO CRIMINAL CHARGES
Scalpers outside event venues hawking tickets will no longer face
criminal charges if caught. They'd be able to sell tickets for up to
25 percent more than their face value.
There is a catch, and it involves taxes, of course:
Anyone who resells a ticket must pay sales tax to the state Department
of Revenue on the difference between the face value and the resale
price. |
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Source : http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/14476553.htm |
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