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A representative of central province's Party Committee said Monday the Women's Union held a meeting to criticize Nguyen Thi Le Ha, 51, its president and some other personnel.
The government should instruct departments to manage official cars strictly in accordance with regulations, the members added.
On Feb. 2 a car belonging to the union was used by Ha to visit various places in Nghe An Province to give Tet gifts to senior women. She then headed to Vinh Airport to pick up her daughter, who was returning from HCMC.
As the flight was late the official car had to be parked at the entrance to the waiting lounge for nearly an hour.
At 10 p.m. Ha's daughter got into the car, and the driver turned on the car's siren and flashing lights. The incident was captured on camera by passers-by and uploaded on social media.
A video clip shows an official car with lights and siren turned on at Vinh Airport on Feb. 2, 2024.
The Woman's Union driver, Pham Hoai Son, 52, was fined VND2.5 million (US$100) and had his license revoked for two months for turning on the lights and siren as the car went through Thach Long Commune in Thach Ha District.
The lights and siren on the car have been removed by authorities.
Ha admitted that using an official car to pick up her daughter from the airport was wrong. She had asked the driver to remove the flashing lights and siren from the car multiple times, but he did not comply, she claimed.
The only vehicles that are allowed to have a siren and lights are fire trucks, military and police vehicles and ambulances.
Cars with illegally installed lights can be fined up to VND3 million, and the driver could have his license revoked for up to three months.
Using official vehicles for personal purposes without proper approvals could result in a fine of up to VND20 million.
