Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Paris Hilton has pleaded not guilty to drunken driving charges

Paris Hilton has pleaded not guilty to drunken driving charges following her arrest for allegedly weaving around a Hollywood street in her Mercedes-Benz last year.

The socialite was not required to be in Superior Court.

Her lawyer entered the pleas on her behalf to one count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or above.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $US1,000 ($A1,284) fine.

However, the minimum penalty for a first-time offender is a fine, probation and participation in an alcohol rehabilitation program.

Hilton's lawyer, Shawn Chapman, declined to speak with reporters after the hearing.

Motorcycle officers said they saw Hilton's Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR being driven erratically and stopped in the early hours of September 7.

Hilton later said she may have been "speeding a little bit" and was on her way to get a hamburger because she had filmed a music video all day without eating.

The 25-year-old hotel heiress, singer, actress and handbag designer said she had drunk only a single margarita at a charity event that evening.

Police said she appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test.

Her publicist said she had a blood alcohol level of .08 per cent.

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