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Celebrity Justice
Why Nicole Richie Can Still Drive

Posted Jun 1st 2007 4:23PM by TMZ Staff

RichieTMZ ran a story earlier today saying that officials from the DMV and the D.A. couldn't explain why Nicole Richie didn't have her drivers license automatically suspended, more than six months after she was busted driving the wrong way on a Burbank freeway and charged with DUI. After all, Paris had her license suspended 5 months after she was busted for DUI. Well, after more digging, we've finally gotten to the bottom of the mystery.

Under California law, the DMV must suspend the license of anyone busted for driving with a .08 alcohol level or higher. In Richie's case, alcohol was not a factor. At the time of her arrest, Richie admitted she had taken Vicodin and smoked pot, but there were no traces of alcohol, therefore, an automatic suspension was not an option.

If, however, Richie is convicted, her license will be on the line, especially since this is her second DUI in 4 years.

Tags: nicole richie, NicoleRichie

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31. TMZ,

According to an mtv.com article dated 2/16/07, it states:

"Nicole Richie was charged Friday (February 16) with misdemeanor driving under the influence. The complaint alleges Richie was under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and an unspecified drug when she was arrested."

So, what is the truth here?

Posted at 12:00AM on Jun 2nd 2007 by PrettyIrishWoman

32. Come Vist Sunny California
Ok young adults listen up, Driving on Vicodin, pot, and drinking up to .08 alcohol (or under if your a freeway wimp) is ok in California! Pack those baggies, Call the doc, summer is almost here Ye haw!

Be sure to stop in Belverly Hills and say howdy.

Posted at 3:33AM on Jun 2nd 2007 by Idiots thanks for the message to our youth.

33. Driving under the influence can be a combination of alcohol, drugs, excedrin, benzos,, etc. A B.A.C. of .08 with other substances could indeed qualify as a valid reason for suspension as it is the cumulative effect of said substances that would affect a person's driving judgement....I guess driving down the wrong way on the freeway wasn't big enough a red flag for the D.A.s office????? Now they're saying there wasn't enough alcohol but enough of everything else to impair her judgement, but based on alcoholic ingestion alone, they can't do an automatic suspension. Thanks for all these new defense precedents for the rest of us to work off of when we're into out pot and drink some booze to ease the dry throat..then pop a few pills to mellow it out. As long as I'm below an .08 I can do whatever drugs I want. GREAT!

Posted at 5:06AM on Jun 2nd 2007 by The Judge and the Jury

34. Drugs are ok but alcohol not...good to know...right nicole?

Posted at 6:48AM on Jun 2nd 2007 by marriee

35. SICK OF WASTING YOUR TIME WISHING DEATH UPON RICH PEOPLE HEIRESS'S LIKE NICOLE AND PARIS????

THEN STEP OUTSIDE INTO THE WORLD, GO PLANT A TREE, GO DANCE UNDER THE SUN, LAY OUT AT THE BEACH!

I promise you, there A LOT more better ways to spend your time other than wishing death on people you don't know, and making your life miserable by caring so much..

P.S. Just so those of you who are wondering why it seems better to be on drugs as opposed to alcohol... It isn't but the fact that she said "No I haven't been drinking, I 'admit' I did take a vicodin and smoked some pot" It looks like she is "being honest" with the cops, and that looks better. You tell them a true story and you get off A LOT easier.

Look at me I stole money and had 20 illigal pills and all I got was a year probation, it's all because I was honest. I learned my lesson too, don't steal money and don't have drugs in your car. DUH! haha!

Whatever, like I said go do something with yourselves, as momma always said, "If ya can't say anything nice don't say anything at all!"
Go on a hike, like Nicole, that will get your asses in shape, im sure of it.

PEACE!

Posted at 12:17PM on Jun 6th 2007 by Sammy

36. One can only take charge of one's own life really... Probably was the vicodin that impaired her driving more so than the pot. Pot is known to cause less impairment to a persons driving ability than alcohol (although I would never recommend driving under the influence of any of these substances).

Also, another issue has been suggested by some of the comments. A kind of indignation that a person can get away with driving under the influence of an illegal drug (in this case cannabis), but not alcohol. Well, lets not let bureaucracy overcome pragmatism. The fact is, as I mentioned before, cannabis generally causes less impairment to a persons driving than alcohol and other prescription drugs (a lot of the worst drugs you can take are prescription, by the way). Although when combined with other intoxicants it can tend to augment that intoxicants effect.

But the real issue here is that you can do what the f**k you want as long as you've got money.

Posted at 10:46AM on Jun 8th 2007 by Man

37. I got arrested afew years back for driving on vicodin and xanax. YES, I went to jail, and YES I deserved it. They even slapped me with a nice little felony that has ruined my life...It will still be at least 5 years more till I get my license back...It sickens me that Nicole is getting special treatment.

Posted at 7:25PM on Jun 19th 2007 by Jax

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