Where ticket scalpers are criminals.

• Position: Statstats

During the 2001 World Series, Arizona citizens felt the joy of co-hosting their first championship series. Ecstatic Diamondback fans quickly snapped up tickets to see their barely christened major league baseball team battle the historic New York Yankees. And the scalpers were also on hand. Bourbon Street was their site during last month's Super Bowl in Louisiana.

During the 2001 World Series in Arizona, tickets had face values ranging from $40 to $110. In an effort to defeat scalping, tickets were to be available only over the phone from contracted ticket agents, and callers were limited to four tickets. It didn't work. Some fans shelled out as much as $400 for $40 standing-room-only seats, with several diehards willing to pay as much as $1,000.

There are no federal laws directly governing ticket resale, but several states and a number of municipalities prohibit reselling for more than face value. Some states with resale laws allow a small premium to be charged, usually no more than $3 by a reseller, though they generally allow contracted ticket agents to charge whatever they want.

At least 15 states prohibit the resale of tickets, seven require a license to broker tickets and consider reselling a crime, and four grant localities the right to license or prohibit resale of tickets. Some cities have regulations against ticket brokering, although state law does not expressly prohibit it. In almost all instances where ticket scalping is prohibited or there's resale without a license, the offense is a misdemeanor. In Connecticut, a third offense makes it a felony.

STATE STATUTES ON TICKET SCALPING State Type of Ticket Alabama Not specified Arizona Any event if within 200 feet Arkansas High school, college athletic, or music events California Entertainment event Connecticut Any amusement area, arena, stadium, theater, performance, sport, exhibition or athletic contest Delaware Any event at the University of Delaware sports center or NASCAR race at Dover Downs Florida Amusement location or facility offering entertainment Georgia Athletic contest or entertainment event Illinois Public entertainment or amusement, including sports events Kentucky Event Louisiana Athletic contest, dance, theater, concert, circus or other amusement not college level Maryland Boxing or kickboxing event Massachusetts Theatrical exhibition...