Crazy slopes make SAFE  driving a crime???

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24488198/

New Chinese bridge brings out lookie-loos
Folks checking out the sea scenery cause big traffic problems
 
updated 2:25 p.m. MT, Tues., May. 6, 2008

BEIJING - China opened the world's longest cross-sea bridge last week
aiming to cut travel time between two major ports, but hundreds of
drivers have been fined already for, unexpectedly, driving too slow to
enjoy the view.

The 22.4-mile-long structure spans Hangzhou Bay in the booming province
of Zhejiang, designed to slash travel time between its port city of
Ningbo and the financial hub Shanghai from four hours to two and a half.

But since its opening on May 1, police have fined more than 300 drivers,
most for driving too slowly or illegal parking on the emergency lanes
while enjoying the ocean view and taking photos, local media reported on
Monday.

"I just wanted to drive a bit slowly and enjoy the sea breeze. Is that
wrong?" Zhejiang's official news portal (www.zjol.com.cn) quoted an
unnamed driver as complaining.

Long lines of cars carrying whole families eager to see the bridge and
sea vista have caused serious traffic problems and led to a series of
accidents, the news portal said.

Some drivers busted for illegal parking even posed in front of police
cameras, hoping to turn police snapshots into souvenirs, it said.

"Traffic jams should be impossible under normal circumstances given the
capacity of the bridge," the news portal said.

The $1.7 billion bridge's much publicized "sightseeing platforms" in the
middle of the span will not be ready for tourists for another two years,
local media have reported.