'Idol' Judge Fined For Hit-And-Run

Paula Abdul Pleads No Contest To Hitting A Car On A L.A. Freeway

(AP)  Singer and "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul has been fined and put on probation after pleading no contest to hit-and-run driving in Los Angeles.

The judge fined Abdul $900 and gave her 24 months of informal probation, in addition to ordering her to pay $775 for damage to the other car. Abdul's attorney says she's already done that.

The city attorney's office filed the misdemeanor count, which carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Prosecutors say Abdul was driving her Mercedes on an L.A.-area freeway in December when she changed lanes and hit the other vehicle. The driver and passenger snapped a photograph with a cell phone camera and wrote down the license plate number of the car, which was traced to Abdul, city attorney's office spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

Abdul initially said her it hadn't happened. Her lawyer says it was only this week she learned "her car was actually involved."

Authorities said Abdul was driving Dec. 20 on a highway about 15 miles northwest of downtown when she changed lanes and struck another vehicle.

"Unbeknownst to Paula, there was some minor contact between the tire of her car and another vehicle on the roadway," said a statement from lawyer Neil E. Meyer.

"This week, after learning that it had been determined that her car was actually involved, Paula immediately took full responsibility and paid $775 to repair the minor property damage," Meyer said.

Authorities said Abdul was driving Dec. 20 on a highway about 15 miles northwest of downtown when she changed lanes and struck another vehicle.