Lawmakers to Capitol Police: Let The People Sled!

Powdery snow after a big snowfall begs for a good sledding outing -- but on Capitol Hill, sledding is a giant no-no.

However, a few lawmakers are pushing the Capitol Police Board to lift its ban on sledding for the next four days as a major snowstorm moves into the Washington, D.C. area.

“This could be the last snowstorm the D.C. area gets this winter, and may be one of the best for sledding in years,” Washington, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton wrote in a letter to U.S. Capitol Police Board Chair Frank Larkin. “Children and their parents should able to enjoy sledding on one of the best hills in the city. This is a one-time waiver that will allow D.C. kids to sled while we await a more formal review of the ban, which will likely come after the last snow has fallen in our region.”

“Have a heart, Mr. Larkin, a kid’s heart that is,” she added.

Norton has asked the board to grant a temporary waiver to allow sledding on the Capitol Grounds from Thursday through Sunday and wants a review of the entire policy to follow.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, who worked as a Capitol Police Officer while attending law school at Georgetown, echoed the sentiment.

The Capitol Police Board Code of Traffic Regulations for the United States Capitol Grounds outlines the rules traffic activities on Capitol Hill -- including snow related activities. It specifically says all forms of sledding are off-limits.

“No person shall coast or slide a sled within Capitol Grounds,” the regulations read.

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo

PHOTO: James Drobnyk, 2, joins others in sledding down the hill on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 17, 2015.

What about snowmobiling?

Well that’s only allowed if on a “street closed by the Capitol Police Board to motor vehicular traffic due to conditions of ice or snow.”

And skiing?

That’s banned too unless you’re using “cross-country skis or snowshoes as a means for transportation.”

The Capitol Police is responsible for enforcing the regulations, which they expect to do on Thursday.

“The USCP will continue to work with the Capitol Police Board to ensure the safety and security of the Capitol Campus,” Capitol Police Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider said.

Earlier this year, a few snow enthusiasts were able to sneak in a quick sled down the hill of the Capitol Grounds, so stay tuned for potential sledding mischief in the next few days -- ban or no ban.