Roller Derby is now legal in the state of Maine. The Maine Roller Derby announced on Wednesday that a legislation was passed, now officially allowing the contact sport to pursue its plans for a venue, tournaments and a possible youth skating program.
According to Sun Journal, Roller Derby has been officially legalized in Maine after an emergency bill was passed and approved this week. The law looks to expand the state's roller-skating statute to allow physical contact during derby practices, clinic, and bouts.
Heather 'Hard Dash' Steeves of Portland, a player in the Maine Roller Derby's internationally ranked as all-star team, said in a statement that there were never a threat given by the police to shut down the game but it did have an effect to the sport. Maine Roller Derby is the largest, oldest league in the state and has introduced a fundraising of $400,000 for a home base in Portland.
Press Herald wrote that the sport in which there are blocking, bumping and slamming members of the opposing team has been gaining popularity for years. Maine Roller Derby even has women's leagues in cities of Portland, Bangor, Rockland and Aroostook County. The recently passed law said that "A skater attempting to overtake other skaters shall do so in a manner that avoids collision with objects and other skaters in that skater's field of vision."
Maine Roller Derby and several other leagues in the state are technically operating against the law as reported by WCSH6. The old law in Maine constitutes that hitting another one is prohibited when using roller skates. Now, the new law indicates that there will be no more of that exception to roller derby.
Rep. Dianne Russell, a Democrat in Portland, introduced the bill to legalize the contact sport and it became a law this week. The legislation even passed without Governor Paul LePage's signature as he allowed it.
