Man Fined for Crossing Street Too Slowly

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from Pinerolo, perhaps. The Italian town is getting some odd press after news emerged that an 85-year-old man who failed to cross one of its streets quickly enough was handed a fine of about $50. Italy's La Repubblica newspaper reported that he didn't get to the other side of the street before the traffic light turned red. Locals were furious at the fine, the International Business Times reports; they say the traffic lights change too quickly. But the police chief didn't waver, the Local reports. "In the records, there's a doubt that the man crossed on the green light," he says.

Either way, the man, who limps slightly, quickly paid the fine, resulting in a reduced expense of about $36—but Pinerolo's mayor intends to reduce that to zero. "I haven’t yet had time to speak with the person who gave the fine to understand what happened and to see whether there were any excesses," said Eugenio Buttiero. He plans to refund the man out of his own pocket. (Texting, of course, can slow you down—though that's not a problem in this city.)