Ticket scalpers pay little heed to rules

Joseph Barnett is one of just four people playing by the rules to scalp tickets in Pittsburgh, holding a license that allows him to resell in a 690-square-foot area under the Fort Duquesne Bridge between PNC Park and Heinz Field.

"It was the worst investment I ever made," the Bellevue man said of the $578 annual license. "I can't get anywhere near the ballpark, but the guys who sell hats can walk right up."

Heading into this weekend's interleague series between the struggling Pirates and the Indians from rival Cleveland, dozens of scalpers likely will ignore the rules as usual, selling and buying tickets throughout the North Shore. They hope a rare crush of fans into PNC Park will reverse sliding ticket sales brought on by the losing baseball team, a shaky economy and online sales.

"For years, it's been a cat-and-mouse game," city police Sgt. John Fisher said. "We keep it in check. We know that for some, this is how they make their living."

Scalping in Pennsylvania is legal, as long as the seller doesn't collect $5 or 25 percent more than face value on the ticket, whichever is higher.

Reacting to complaints of aggressive scalpers on the North Shore after the stadiums opened a decade ago, the city implemented licensing requirements, scrapped them, and then reinstituted them. It created the resale zone in 2002 and banned scalping elsewhere, including stadium property and parking lots.

City Councilman Bill Peduto helped usher in the legislation that created the resell zone.

"For those who scalp, it's a fairer system for them," Peduto said. "As long as they're willing to obey the law, we gave them a marketplace. For those buying, it was a safe environment."

Despite the rules, it's easy to spot a scalper during most Pirate home games outside the zone and around PNC Park, and in fall, around Heinz Field. Many carry signs saying, "I need tickets," or openly approach fans.

"Unless we see them scalping, we can't cite them," Fisher said. "We know why they're there. We can chase them away, and they leave, but an hour or so later, they're back."

During typical weeknight games, Fisher said, 12 uniformed officers and a supervisor provide security in and around the stadium. More work events at the larger Heinz Field.

Scalpers argue the license is too expensive and the rules are restrictive.

"Season-ticket sellers come out of line and buy and resell to each other," said Jeff Blackson, 50. "But as soon as we resell, all hell breaks out. It just ain't right."

Fisher said season-ticket holders have been cited. In the past year, police issued at least 60 citations.

"(Scalpers) argue and say we're picking on them," Fisher said. "I tell them, 'I have better things to do than to deal with you.'"

Fisher noted that under the city ordinance, penalties reset with each event. So if on a Wednesday a scalper gets a first warning, the process starts over Thursday.

Additional Information:

Resale law

• Ticket reselling on the North Shore is restricted to a 690-square-foot area at Tony Dorsett Way and North Shore Drive.

• Sellers can't hawk tickets to motorists in traffic.

• Sellers can't use a display stand, table, booth or chair. They can use a handheld sign.

Penalties (per event)

• First offense: Warning to move to the resale zone

• Second offense: Citation for selling out of resale zone, up to $500 fine

• Subsequent offense: Public nuisance citation, a second-degree misdemeanor

• The Bureau of Building Inspection can revoke a license if a seller committed three violations during the term of the license, or hasn't paid a fine within 15 days.

Source: Pittsburgh Bureau of Building Inspection