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 drunken-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.
Hilton’s blood-alcohol level was .08 percent – the minimum to warrant an arrest, Mintz said.
Hilton is expected to be arraigned Sept. 28, the city attorney’s office said. Penalties for a first drunken-driving offense typically include a fine, probation, an alcohol-rehabilitation program, license suspension and “other DUI-related conditions” such as community service, he said.
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