Paris Hilton busted for DUI

Paris Hilton was arrested and charged with driving under the influence early Thursday after driving erratically and failing a field sobriety test, police said.

Shortly after midnight, officers assigned to a driving-under-the-influence task force spotted Hilton driving erratically in Hollywood and pulled her over.

"She exhibited the symptoms of intoxication," Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Irv Isabella said. (Watch Paris Hilton after arrest -- 1:14)

Hilton, 25, star of TV's "The Simple Life," was asked to perform a field sobriety test, which she failed, and was arrested and charged with DUI, a misdemeanor.

Isabella could not confirm whether Hilton was handcuffed, but he said it is standard procedure to handcuff people arrested on DUI charges.

Hilton was released from police custody and is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

"We have faith she will appear in court," Isabella said.

Elliot Mintz, Hilton's publicist, stressed that Hilton was not intoxicated. He said she had "had one drink" and hadn't eaten all day. He added that she had been up late working on a music video, in the second day of shooting.

Mintz said police gave Hilton a Breathalyzer test, and it showed "the very absolute lowest reading you can possibly get to warrant being taken in."

He said the officers did what they had to do in the situation, following the same procedure for Hilton that they follow for anyone arrested.

Mintz said it was "determined she is obviously not a flight risk and she is not inebriated and I was allowed to drive her home" after she was released "on her own recognizance."

Mintz said sister Nicky Hilton and Nicky's boyfriend, actor Kevin Connolly of TV's "Entourage," picked Paris up at the police station in Hollywood, according to The Associated Press.

"Of course these matters are never to be taken lightly," said Mintz, who noted that it is "unfortunate she was behind the wheel of a car even with one drink."

"It's her first offense and hopefully it will never happen again."

cnn