Paula Abdul Put on Probation  3/25/05

Eighties pop star-turned-American Idol judge Paula Abdul was fined and put on probation for two years after pleading no contest to charge of hit and run at Los Angeles' Traffic Court yesterday (24MAR05).

The Straight Up star was ordered to pay $900 in penalties and fines in addition to paying the victim $775 as compensation for the damage caused in the accident last year (DEC04).

The charge faced by Abdul carried a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Abdul's lawyer Neil Meyer said in a statement: "Unbeknownst to Paula, there was some minor contact between the tire of her car and another vehicle on the roadway. Paula immediately took full responsibility."

The incident occurred on 20 December (04) when Abdul switched lanes on Highway 101 near Encino, California and clipped another vehicle - the plaintive took a photograph of Abdul's vehicle on his mobile phone.