Michigan House approves ‘Taylor Swift’ bills to protect people against ticket bots

Legislation includes fines of up to $5,000 per ticket fraudulently obtained

A Michigan House committee on Tuesday approved “Taylor Swift” bills to protect people against ticket bots that drive up prices.

State Rep. Mike McFall, D-Hazel Park, said the bills advanced out of committee Tuesday (June 18) and will now be considered by the full House of Representatives.

The bipartisan legislation aims to crack down on ticket bots, such as the ones that snatched up tickets to Taylor Swift’s 2023 Eras Tour stop in Detroit.

“This affects anyone that goes to buy tickets,” McFall said. “You’re a family, you go to buy tickets (and) you can’t afford to buy the tickets because now they’re on a resale site at a much higher price, often priced out of reach for families.”

McFall said they’ve worked with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to develop the legislation’s language.

The legislation includes fines of up to $5,000 per ticket fraudulently obtained.

“It’s already against federal law, but the federal government doesn’t do anything, so we’ve decided to bring it to the state level,” McFall said. “Because we actually are going to do something about it to protect the consumers of Michigan.”


About the Author

Jacqueline Francis is an award-winning journalist who joined the WDIV team in September 2022. Prior to Local 4, she reported for the NBC affiliate in West Michigan. When she’s not on the job, Jacqueline enjoys taking advantage of all the wonders Michigan has to offer, from ski trips up north to beach days with her dog, Ace.

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