We know Nicole Richie loves her some fur, so those PETA freaks are surely loving the fact that the Simple Life “actress” could be adding trading in her mink coats for an orange jumpsuit.
The celebrity gossip all-stars at TMZ have uncovered court documents which reveal that Richie has a prior DUI arrest – she pled no contest four years ago to driving under the influence. Under California law, if Richie is convicted of DUI as a result of her arrest Monday, the judge must impose a jail sentence.
The law requires a mandatory sentence of five consecutive days in county jail as well as a one year license suspension for anyone twice-convicted of DUI. In addition, Monday’s Nicole Richie arrest could result in her having to attend an alcohol education program for 18 months, even if the second conviction is not alcohol-related.
Richie admitted to California Highway Patrol officers that she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot before driving the wrong way on a Burbank freeway. A field sobriety test revealed she was not under the influence of alcohol.
In the 2006 case, Richie told cops all she had eaten that day were french fries. As for what she drank that day — “1 shot vodka.” She was booked at the police station and her weight was listed at a hefty 85 pounds.
She blew a .12 and a .13 in two separate tests. In California, .08 is considered legally intoxicated. Richie was stopped in her Toyota Corolla after a UCLA police officer observed her blowing a red light and driving over a speed bump at more than 50 miles an hour in a 15 mph zone.
Her eyes were watery and bloodshot, and she was unable to even keep your balance. Richie failed the sobriety test hard that night. Sadly, no Nicole Richie mug shot from the 2002 arrest has been made available. We will keep looking.
Richie was given three years probation for the 2002 DUI conviction and had her license suspended for one year. Six months later, Richie was arrested for possession of heroin and for driving with a suspended license.
THG NOTE: These revelations from her past will surely better Nicole’s chances in the official DUI Arrest odds. The girl’s record would make even Pete Doherty proud!
She was also given a suspended sentence for driving a piece-of-$h!t hoopty ride. A Corrolla? Come on. T.H. Gossip staff members have nicer wheels. And you call yourself a star, Nicole. For shame, girl. For shame.