Gleeful Kids Defy Capitol Building Sledding Ban

(Updated at 2:40 p.m.) Sledding is still officially illegal on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, but that didn’t stop many families looking for snow day fun.

Breaking the rules, at least two dozen families slid down the West Lawn on sleds and saucers this afternoon.

With “cabin fever” on their day off, Hill resident Erin McKeon took her daughters Claire, 7, and Molly, 5 to the Capitol.

“As we were walking here, I said to the kids, ‘Don’t talk to the cops, don’t talk to the cops,'” she said about the ban. “It’s silly. What are we harming?”

Del. Eleanor Holmes, who made a last-minute push for the ban to be lifted, thanked Capitol Police for not enforcing it today.

No enforcement of #sledding ban on Capitol Hill today. Thank you Capitol Police!

— Eleanor H. Norton (@EleanorNorton) March 5, 2015

Hill resident John Fleming and his two sons, who are 6 and 3, hauled two snow saucers to the West Lawn. Fleming sledded the West Lawn as a kid and wanted his children to have the same experience.

Federal employee Brandon Ashley stood at the top of the hill holding a sign that read “Sled Free or Die.” He showed up after reading about the “sled-in” on social media.

“I hate seeing kids not having fun,” he said.

Capitol Police officers distributed a flier with copies of the no-sledding rule about 12:50 p.m., Washington City Paper reported. Officers were nowhere to been seen later in the afternoon.

The sled-in was planned this morning after Capitol Police said last night that the ban would be maintained for “security reasons” and to avoid injuries on Capitol grounds.

On the West Lawn, a 7-year-old bulldog named B.B., short for Baby Bulldog, got in on the fun too. She previously lived in Corpus Christi.

“We’re not sure she’s used to this,” her owner said.