Project that expands punishments for money changers is approved in the Chamber

The Chamber of Deputies approved this Wednesday (24) the bill that creates new penalties for the practice of currency exchange at sporting events, concerts and other spectacles.

The proposal, which will be sent to the Senate, includes three new types of crime in the law on crimes against the popular economy, such as forging tickets for sporting competitions, musical shows, theatrical performances, Carnival events or any other cultural, leisure events and business. The penalty will be imprisonment for 1 to 2 years and a fine equal to 100 times the value of the ticket. According to the rapporteur, deputy Luiz Gastão (PSD-CE), there is already a provision in the Sports Law against currency exchange, but exclusively for sporting events.

For the typical exchange activity linked to the sale of tickets outside authorized locations at a price higher than the fixed price, the project provides for imprisonment of 1 to 2 years and a fine corresponding to 50 times the value of the tickets. Anyone who provides, diverts or facilitates the distribution of tickets for sale in this exchange, the approved text stipulates a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years and a fine of 100 times the value of the tickets.

According to the project, the ticket must contain the date of purchase and its final value, including any fees, when applicable. For online sales, the company responsible for selling tickets must provide “queue management” for the purchase and place on its website adequate and clear information about the event, in addition to the value of the tickets and the form and deadline for return and ticket refunds.

*With information from Agência Câmara