Hilton Pleads No Contest To Driving Charge

Heiress Placed On 36 Months Probation; Ordered To Attend Alcohol Rehab Program

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2007 | by Amy Bonawitz

(CBS/AP)  Paris Hilton was placed on 36 months probation and ordered to pay fines after pleading no contest Monday to alcohol-related reckless driving, a reduction of an original charge of driving under the influence.

Hilton did not appear in court. The plea was entered by her attorneys, Howard Weitzman and Shawn Chapman Holley, the city attorney's office said.

Judge Michael Sauer also ordered her to attend an alcohol rehabilitation program and imposed other conditions. He gave her the option of reducing her probation to 24 months if she completed 40 hours of community service. No immediate decision was made on that option.

On Jan. 9, an attorney for Hilton entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the hotel chain heiress to charges related to her September drunk driving arrest in Hollywood. Hilton was not present at the arraignment, where her lawyer entered the pleas on two misdemeanor DUI counts.

Police say Hilton was arrested after officers saw her "driving erratically" and pulled her over for a field sobriety test.

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Photos: Paris And The Police

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She reportedly told officers that she'd had just one cocktail on an empty stomach and that she was on her way to a burger stand when police stopped her.

Back in September, Hilton's spokesman, Elliot Mintz told The ShowBuzz that Hilton was prepared to face any consequences for the arrest.

"She certainly did not take it in a lackadaisical manner," he said. "There is no humor involved in any of this. Whereas we certainly don't view it as the crime of the century, the fact of the matter is that it is inappropriate for people to drink and (drive) and she regrets having done what she did and she'll face the consequences."

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