Vancouver street icon Roller Girl is heading to provincial court to fight a traffic ticket for rollerblading, on human rights grounds.
Roller Girl, less known by Angela Dawson, claims Vancouver police put her in danger when they stopped her at Main and Keefer on April 20, 2021 while rollerblading behind a truck.
Dawson was charged with unlawfully coasting/sliding with apparatus on a street. She made her second appearance on the charge in Robson Square Provincial Court on March 29.
She told the justice of the peace the ticket was a violation of her human rights, of her right to freedom of expression.
“I’m a rollerblader,” she said.
That’s when the court asked if Dawson wanted to pursue a Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge on the ticket.
Dawson agreed.
The case now moves before a provincial court judge. Dawson’s next court appearance is set for April 7.
Dawson rollerblading in the area of Main and Hastings has been a common sight for almost two decades. She directs traffic while on wheels in her trademark bright pink attire. She's also known to direct traffic at Commercial and Broadway and Main and 14th.
"I love it," she said. "I love preventing death. I like to enhance society."
As for being stopped and charged, Dawson said it made her feel "very marginalized."
She told Glacier Media she thinks the situation is police harassment, adding it took the officer half an hour to give her the ticket.
