admission tickets; fraud
HB 2485 adds a section of law to the Criminal Code relating to forged admission tickets to sporting events, concerts and other major Arizona event venues.
Forged event tickets have become an increasingly common problem for Arizona's major event venues. At a very large Phoenix event in the recent past, approximately five per cent of the tickets that passed through the gate were identified as counterfeit. After the discovery, another two per cent of the ticket holders were denied entry after their tickets were determined to be forged. Counterfeit tickets cause problems for the event sponsors and legitimate ticket holders as well. Disputes between patrons, and loss of sales tax revenue for both the state and local jurisdictions create additional problems.
There is no Arizona statute that specifically addresses counterfeiting of event tickets. HB 2485 was crafted after a Florida law that makes it unlawful for a person to counterfeit, alter or possess any fraudulent admission ticket to a sports, amusement, concert or similar facility or event. Florida ticket vendors print the statute directly on the ticket, which serves as a warning to purchasers of the risk of counterfeit tickets. Like the Florida law, HB 2485 only applies if the person who possesses the ticket intends to defraud the facility or event sponsors.