New York State Enacts Tougher Ticket Scalping Penalties

Scalping will never be eliminated no matter what the government legislates. However, New York State is about to adapt perhaps the toughest scalping penalties in the nation.

It will now be a felony instead of a misdemeanor to bribe box office employees to divert tickets while the amount of profit a legitimate ticketholder or broker may make will be increased. The current law expires on June 8; the new one will be in effect for two years.

It will be a felony to offer or receive a bribe of more than $1,000 to divert tickets; the current law makes it a misdemeanor and a $500 fine on scalpers. The new law imposes a $1,000 fine, or twice the scalper's profit plus a prison term of up to four years.

The cap on resale profits through legitimate ticket brokers was raised to 20 percent from 10 percent.