Famous singer 'sorry' over illegal plate fine

Han Hong during a performance in Tongzi county, Guizhou province in this June 27, 2010 file photo. [Photo by Zhang Shaoming/Asianewsphoto]

Famous Chinese singer Han Hong has apologized for the illegal use of a car license plate after she was stopped and fined by traffic police, Beijing News reported Monday.

Han was fined 5,000 yuan ($820) for using the car plates from another vehicle in the capital on Saturday. The following morning, she apologized on Sina Weibo before issuing a TV and hand written apology.

"I am deeply shamed about my behavior. I'm wrong," she wrote in the letter. The Land Rover she drove used the license plate of another car as she had no plate since she failed the license plate lottery in Beijing.

Han was driving a Land Rover vehicle in Beijing on Saturday afternoon. The traffic police stopped the car for suspicion of the illegal use of license plates.

Han went to a police station for investigation which was surrounded by media within minutes. On the evening, the police published a notice saying Han was fined 5,000 yuan on its official Sina Weibo.

Many online showed forgiveness after her apology. One wrote, "As a public figure she recognizes her wrong and apologized on her own. It's worth encouraging."