Nicole Richie Pleads Not Guilty To DUI

"Simple Life" Star Accused Of Driving Under The Influence

(AP)  Nicole Richie's lawyer appeared in court Tuesday without her client and entered a not guilty plea on Richie's behalf to a driving under the influence charge.

The complaint alleges Richie was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and an unspecified drug when she was arrested Dec. 11. A pretrial conference was scheduled for April 2.

Richie, who starred in the TV reality show "The Simple Life" with Paris Hilton, was not required to appear for arraignment because the charge is a misdemeanor.

In addition to the single count, the Richie case contains an allegation that she had a prior misdemeanor DUI conviction in June 2003.

The California vehicle code specifies that if convicted of DUI twice within 10 years, a person can be sentenced to between 90 days and a year in jail, fined between $390 and $1,000, and have driving privileges suspended.

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The Incredible Shrinking Nicole
Photos: Celebrity Mug Shots

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The 25-year-old Richie was arrested after 911 callers reported seeing her car headed the wrong way on a freeway in Burbank about 12:30 a.m. She was found alone in her SUV, which was stopped in a car-pool lane but facing the right way when California Highway Patrol officers arrived.

She was arrested after she failed a field sobriety test.

CHP Officer Todd Workman said at the time that Richie, the daughter of pop singer Lionel Richie, volunteered that she had smoked marijuana and taken the prescription painkiller Vicodin, but no drugs were found on her or in the car.

Richie's reality show co-star has had similar problems recently. Last month, Hilton pleaded no contest to alcohol-related reckless driving stemming from her Sept. 7 arrest in Hollywood and was sentenced to 36 months probation, alcohol education and $1,500 in fines. That case was reduced from an original charge of driving under the influence.

[smilin7]

I cant believe this. All laws should be the same in all states. In Tennessee, they would be on probation and lose their license for 1 year. They would pay $1500.00 in fines and also pay a probation officer a monthly fee for that year. They would attend a DUI driving class and spend 48 hours in jail. They would have to bum rides to and from the probabtion office and to the county jail to do their time. This is harsh to someone who learned thier lesson from the moment they were arrested and experienced the humiliation to family and friends of having to let them know they were stupid enough to do it. To someone who had never been in any trouble and knows how hard it is to work for a living and truly has respect for human life. Someone who was thankful to know that they didnt wake up the next day facing the fact that they killed someone.

Maybe the laws shouldnt be the same to everyone. Paying a $1500.00 fine isnt as hard for some people as it is to others. To some its 3 months rent, or 3 months car payments, or a whole months pay. To others its really not much money. They spend more than that on a night out on the town.

Some people never learn and continue to do it. Its sad. Even more so its scarey....whats it take for people to touch bottom enough to realize what COULD happen and be thankful for what hasnt happened?

[garybears3]

Plead guilty and own up for once. Going the wrong way on a road..............IDIOT

[hello83]

She should go to rehab like Britteny Spears!!!!!