Legislation aims to end fraudulent ticket sales in NYC's Battery Park, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-battery-park-fraudulent-tickets/)
17-09-2026
New legislation introduced in the New York City Council aims to crack down on long-running fraudulent ticket sales and aggressive hawking targeting tourists in Manhattan’s Battery Park.
Key details from the report include:
The Problem: Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal described fraudulent ticketing in the area as “the biggest scam in New York City.” Aggressive vendors frequently mislead visitors by claiming they cannot view the Statue of Liberty without paid tickets, forcing tourists onto buses headed to New Jersey, or charging hundreds of dollars for the Staten Island Ferry, which is actually free. The only authorized ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is Statue City Cruises.
Flaws in Current Enforcement: Under the existing system, individual sellers face small finestypically around $50 per violationwhich City Councilman Christopher Marte noted are treated merely as the “cost of doing business.”
What the New Bill Proposes: Sponsored by Councilman Marte, the proposed legislation would:
Significantly raise fines from around $50 to $1,000 or more per infraction.
Hold parent tour companies directly accountable rather than just penalizing street-level workers.
Revoke a corporation’s operating license if it accumulates three violations.
The overarching goal of the bill is to curb aggressive street harassment, increase transparency, and protect visitors so they can experience the city’s landmarks without falling prey to deceptive sales tactics.