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In this image taken from video and
released
by TMZ.com, Paris Hilton talks on her
cell
phone as she arrives at her home in Los Angeles
with spokesman
Elliot Mintz after being arrested
early Thursday morning. (AP /
TMZ.com)
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LOS ANGELES -- For most celebrities, getting smacked with a DUI is an instant
image crisis. For Paris Hilton, it could be a career boost.
"Paris Hilton being arrested just makes her more famous," said veteran
publicist Michael Levine. "She has devoted her entire adult life to appearing to
be the princess of parties."
Hilton's publicist, Elliot Mintz, confirmed the star's festive nature
Thursday: "She's been known to have a drink or two."
Hilton was arrested by Los Angeles police officers in Hollywood early
Thursday on suspicion of driving under the influence. During the arrest she was
briefly handcuffed. Hilton was booked at LAPD's Hollywood station at 1:43 a.m.
and released shortly afterward, said Nick Velasquez, a spokesman for the city
attorney's office.
This is Hilton's first drunk-driving arrest, Mintz said, adding that he
doesn't expect the incident to hurt her image.
"The people who enjoy Paris as a comedian or actress on TV or as a singer on
her CD , a woman who seems to have captured the imagination of so many people, I
don't know if this is going to have any impact on them one way or another," he
said. "But, of course, she regrets what took place."
Hours after her release, Hilton defended herself to radio host Ryan Seacrest
during his Thursday morning show on local station KIIS-FM.
"It was nothing," said Hilton, 25.
The singer, actress, handbag designer and heiress to the Hilton hotel-chain
fortune said she was "starving because I had not ate all day" and possibly
"speeding a little bit" in her Mercedes-Benz SLR on her way to grab a bite.
"I was just really hungry and I wanted to have an In-N-Out burger," said the
one-time pitchwoman for Carl's Jr.
Hilton, who made her singing debut last week with the release of her
eponymous CD, said she spent Wednesday filming a music video and having dinner
with her sister, Nicky, and some friends before heading to a charity event
sponsored by rocker Dave Navarro.
Hilton said she had "one margarita" at the event.
Just last month, she told the Los Angeles Times that she "doesn't like the
taste of alcohol."
"It grosses me out," she said.
Hilton told Seacrest that police stopped her early Thursday for speeding.
An LAPD spokeswoman said Hilton was driving erratically.
"Officers observed the vehicle driving in an erratic manner so they pulled
the car over," officer Marjan Mobasser said Thursday.
Hilton's blood-alcohol level was .08 percent -- the minimum to warrant an
arrest, Mintz said.
The arresting officers were "really nice," Hilton said.
"There was a lot of paparazzi around so I think they were trying to make a
statement," she told Seacrest. "Everything I do is blown out of proportion and
it really hurts my feelings."
Hilton is expected to be arraigned Sept. 28, said Velasquez of the city
attorney's office. Penalties for a first drunk-driving arrest typically include
a fine, probation, an alcohol-rehabilitation program, license suspension and
"other DUI-related conditions" such as community service, he said.
LAPD officials said they will not release Hilton's arrest report or her mug
shot.
The maximum penalty for a first misdemeanor DUI arrest is a $1,000 fine and
six months in jail.
