Locklear Pleads No Contest to Reckless Driving

Actress Heather Locklear pled no contest to charges of reckless driving at a January 2 court hearing and, in doing so, avoided more serious driving under the influence charges relating to a 2008 incident in Montecito. Locklear – who did not appear at the Santa Barbara hearing and who was represented by defense attorney Blair Berk – will be placed on three years of probation and also must pay a $700 fine and attend a 12-hour program on drug education.

Locklear, perhaps best known for her roles on Dynasty and Melrose Place, was arrested on September 27 after a bystander reported seeing her driving backward and forward over a pair of sunglasses in a Montecito parking lot. According to CHP reports, the same person then saw Locklear’s vehicle stopped on East Valley Road and Locklear herself stumbling around on foot. CHP officers responding to the witness’s 911 call described Locklear as appearing disoriented. Upon being arrested, a chemical test revealed that she was under the influence of a controlled substance – not alcohol.

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office was closed on Friday and consequently no representative was available for comment.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story erroneously stated that Locklear pled guilty.