Heather Locklear DUI Charges Dismissed, Gets Probation

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Heather Locklear has evaded DUI charges by pleading to a lesser offense.

A court official in Santa Barbara says an attorney for the actress entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge in court Friday.

Locklear was given three years of informal probation, will pay a fine and attend a driver's education program, said Lee Carter, Santa Barbara senior deputy district attorney.

Tests revealed no alcohol in Locklear's system following her September arrest, but prosecutors charged her in November with driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

Locklear's attorney, Blair Berk, declined to comment Friday.

The actress, whose credits include "Dynasty," "Melrose Place," did not appear.

Comments

[WESTFIELD]

This is such a disappointment. We all need to help the economy right now. Imagine if this had gone to trial, all the pappazzo's and TMZ's would have a sure gig for a while. Now what's Harvey Levin to do?

[VOTER]

What is "informal" probation?

[standup4]

Informal probation is a period of probation without having a probation officer assigned to supervise the defendant. It is sometimes referred to as 'court' or 'bench' probation. It essentially means that if she doesn't meet the terms of the probation (pay fine, attend class, obey all laws, etc) AND this gets back to the court, she will have to reappear before the court to explain why she shouldn't be sanctioned or revoked from probation.

[sloreader]

SBA DA has woody for limelight.

[progressivelady]

It's good the case was dismissed since she was set up to begin with

[kellygrrrl]

she was tailed, yes, with the specific intent of catching her in the act.
there is a reason why that happened.
she was not set up.

[Chblotm]

Well, I got the same deal for an Armenian from Glendale, assuming Heather copped to a so-called "wet reckless," and it looks like she did. DAs offer that when the blood alcohol concentration is less than 1.5 or so. Of course, Ms. Locklear had been taking prescription meds, so quantifying her intoxication may have been a problem. The TMZ is rather misleading when it says her DUI was "dismissed," and Harvey should know better.

[sloreader]

1.5? I may be missing something but a BAL of .35 or better could make you an unfortunate statistic?

[Chblotm]

I should have said ".15," altho more likely it's .1 or less.

[mytwosense]

Calling Dr. Drew.

[Voodude]

I should have taken more acting classes.

[VOTER]

Good One!

[wadenelson1]

Who could have forseen this!

Someone needs to write a book about "Celebrity Justice" in America.

[spiderbucket]

I wonder what the sentence would be for the average person in America ? Celebretards should be hunted like snipe.

[KCFreedom]

Further evidence celebrities are exempt from the laws of us "little people".

I always thought the DUI was suspect, considering the paparazzi followed her then called the cops to get the scoop first, which, if there is a "code of honor" of paparazzi, was violated (creating their own stories).

To not get a field or blood test and to get it so easily dismissed though shows our justice system is a hypocritical joke.

[Harrier]

This only happens to celebrities. For normal Californian's a DUI is a DUI regardless if it's your first sentence or not. If the police took a blood test as they should, she's done. Evidently she's exempt

[Stilts9]

Well I should hope so!

She looked great in that mug shot.

[starcasmdotnet]

Woo hoo! Let's hope this clears up her calender so she can join the cast of the revamped Melrose Place on The CW! Without Amanda Woodward, it just can't be good!

[runforcover]

If I ever have my picture taken in a police station, I hope I look half as good as she does.

[dteg]

The DA, and judge should be under investigation for not giving her the DUI charge on her record.. Must be as Paul Money says "the complexion of protection­".. They convicted Diana Ross of Drunk driving and sentenced her to jail so seems Heather Locklear can spend a couple of days in jail and also end up with a DUI on her driving record.