#SledFreeOrDie: Enemies of the State Defy Capitol Hill Sledding Ban

D.C.’s delegate to Congress tried to get the sledding ban on Capitol Hill reversed — at least today through the weekend as a fresh snowfall dumps on the District — but the Capitol Police refused to budge.

In a response to Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the Capitol Police Board upheld the code section that prohibits Capitol grounds from being “used as playgrounds or otherwise, so far as may be necessary to protect the public property, turf and grass destruction or injury.”

Norton said Wednesday she was “deeply disappointed” that no waiver was granted “despite the spontaneous outpouring from residents, and even my colleagues in Congress, in favor of the waiver.”

“Because the Board did not enforce the sledding ban for many years, it is clearly within its power not to enforce it again during a four-day period,” she said. “…I have not asked for unfettered or unregulated sledding. Rather, I have requested reasonable regulation of sledding to replace the absolute ban.  I do not believe that is too much to ask for the Capitol Grounds, which are used for walking dogs and other activities, in a city that has so few snowfalls that can accommodate sledding.”

Many sledders showed up to the Hill today in protest, and were supported by lawmakers on their own snow day.

Let them sled! http://t.co/f1GuFAyIv8 -cg

— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) March 5, 2015

Co-sign RT @EleanorNorton: I just wrote to U.S. Capitol Police requesting a waiver of the sledding ban for Thur-Sun: https://t.co/Ny32wyW6fP — Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) March 4, 2015

What’s a hill good for if you can’t sled down it? #mtpol #MakingDCLookMoreLikeMT http://t.co/aZr4JQIUSG — Senator Jon Tester (@SenatorTester) March 5, 2015

The sledding is underway at the U.S. Capitol lawn! @nbcwashington #SledFreeOrDie pic.twitter.com/qdR7NA1NC2

— Jennifer Vasquez (@JennVasquez_DC) March 5, 2015

What’s the Capitol Hill sled protest without protest signs? pic.twitter.com/jT5CQp2sBr

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) March 5, 2015

A lot more DC residents have showed up to sled on Capitol Hill pic.twitter.com/iY4NopkoBg — Bridget Bowman (@bridgetbhc) March 5, 2015

Don’t blame Congress for the ban on Capitol Hill #sledding. The Capitol Police Board owns its regulations and can waive them. — Eleanor H. Norton (@EleanorNorton) March 5, 2015

Little libertarians in the making. RT @joejohnscnn #sledfreeordie kids challenge the rules on sledding at the Capitol pic.twitter.com/yb8YDFAZAV

— jon gabriel (@exjon) March 5, 2015