In a decisive move to combat the exploitation of live event ticketing, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has endorsed bipartisan legislation known as the "Taylor Swift bills". These measures specifically target the prevention of bots from purchasing tickets in bulk, which escalates prices and blocks average consumers from obtaining them. As per ClickOnDetroit, the freshly inked Senate Bill 158 and House Bill 4262 form the new Event Online Ticket Sales Act, designed to return fairness to the ticket purchasing process.
Rooted in the spirit of the federal Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, this state legislation serves to not just prohibit but also penalize nefarious bot activities. Under the new rules, violators are liable for civil penalties up to $5,000 per occurrence, an enforcement duty falling to the Michigan Attorney General's office. “Bot-scammers have long taken advantage of Michigan consumers," Sen. Mary Cavanagh of Redford Township told WXYZ. Cavanagh exclaims her pride in the bipartisanship triumph, noting her commitment to protecting Michigan consumers in the marketplace.
Rep. Mike Harris of Waterford Township mentioned the surge in bot activity around Taylor Swift’s "Eras Tour" as a catalyzing incident, according to statements provided to Audacy. He explains that the legislation is a step towards ensuring that actual people can lay their hands on tickets, bringing Michiganders back into the Daylight for cherished events.
In addition to confronting ticket scalping bots, Whitmer's recent bill signings encompass a variety of goals, from bolstering child safety and trimming bureaucracy for local businesses to arming Michigan residents against baseless lawsuits. Her actions promise to build on prior successes, with Whitmer detailing an agenda centered on lowering costs and protecting consumers, as gleaned from Audacy coverage. “I’ll work with anyone to lower costs for Michiganders, protect consumers, keep kids safe, and cut red tape," the Governor stated, cementing her commitment to Michigan's progress and welfare.
