I happened to be up by the Stadium yesterday and the traffic was locked up because of the Charger game and both sides of the streets had lots of people holding signs 'tickets for sale', etc. and my partner said that was illegal to do that. Do what?
Sell the tickets..scalping. Why? Why would it be illegal to do that?
If you bought a ticket for your friend and then he/she couldn't go, it would be illegal to ask somebody at work if they wanted to buy it off of you???
Or, is it illegal if you try to profit from it by padding the price a little? Even then, why is that illegal?
It doesn't make any sense..

Anyway, then I got to thinking that since there were so many people lining the streets selling tickets, doing something illegal, then why weren't there cop cars busting them the same way they would if it were streetwalkers lining the streets?

'Splain it to me, Lucy..???

Because the boys (and girls) in blue have to go after the "really dangerous" members of society, you know..providers and hobbyists.  BTW thanks for sticking around to chat...nice.

B55

Ok, Sedona, I'll see if I can...
Selling a ticket or two you bought but couldn't use is ok.  What scalping is, is when someone buys a whole block of tickets - say for $30 apiece, the trys to sell them for a huge profit - say $100 - at the last minutes when people are 'desparate' for them.  It's usually done at or near the entrance to the event thereby cutting to sales at the gate (if they have any tickets left) and ripping off the buyer.  
Also scalpers often create additional traffic or crowd flow problems, which can also create additional security problems.  Additionally, they are often obnoxious and uncoproative with security personnel or police creating even more problems.
That's why scalping is illegal.
Hope this helps.

It is not illegal to sell tickets.  You have to "x" distance (I believe it is at least 500 ft) from the property or site.  Hope that helps.

I am not certain on this issue, but if a person sells a ticket at or below the purchase price that should not be a problem.  It would seem to be somewhat difficult to increase the price of a ticket to an event which still has plenty of tickets available at the box office.

Laws are in place to discourage scalping, raising the price above the purchase price.  This is done to allow more individuals to purchase at the actual price of an event which is usually already higher than most people really want to pay.  I think there are also laws regarding selling or scalping tickets within so many feet of the venue for the event.

I am sure others are more familiar with the laws regarding the selling of extra tickets at face value or for a profit.

It's illegal to sell tickets on city property. Ditto north county guy. These laws are in place to deter scalpers and protect people from fake tickets. It's a relatively petty offense.

Prostitution in it's various forms tends to involve criminals of a more serious nature such as pimps, narcotics dealers, organized crime, etc.

The bottom line is LE cannot go after everybody whether it's speeding, DUI, drugs, etc. If you're going to break the law, take precautions and keep the consequences in mind.

...California penal code 346.

(OK...Let the "penal" jokes fly!!!!)

-- Modified on 9/21/2004 7:54:19 AM

There's a lot of fraud that goes along with scalpers.  Bogus tickets, stolen tickets.... Plus there's a big business aspect to it all too----------they have to protect those under-paid professional athletes..  .....etc, etc, etc.

It is my understanding that it is only illegal if you are trying to sell the tickets for a profit. So if you are selling them at cost or below you can do it. I could be wrong but that's the way I have had it splained to me.