Lohan could face jail time due to reckless driving charge

Over the last couple years, movie star Lindsay Lohan has been through her fair share of trouble, which Baltimore readers may be familiar with. In addition to financial hardship, the “Mean Girls” star has tried to work through a number of legal issues. Currently, Lohan is in the process of trying to resolve three misdemeanors related to a traffic violation, which could be considered a probation violation.

According to reports, Lohan appeared in court after a lengthy absence. She came to court with a new attorney, which caused her to request a new trial date and more time to develop a defense strategy. The judge, who sentenced the actress in previous unrelated court appearances, granted the extension.

Right now, Lohan is facing charges for reckless driving, lying to cops and obstructing police business after running her car into a parked vehicle. Although all three charges are considered misdemeanors and stem from a traffic violation, they could ultimately prove to be far more damaging. At the time of the traffic incident, Lohan was on probation. If Lohan is found guilty and the judge considers this a violation of her probation, Lohan could spend up to 245 days behind bars.

This case shows that traffic violations, even though they may seem like relatively innocuous charges, can have serious consequences for those with previous convictions. Knowing the ramifications of the charges were, Lohan decided to approach her case in a new way. The hope is that the actress and her counselor will be able to develop a strategy aimed at resolving the charges that will help her get through this difficult time.

Source: The Associated Press, “Lindsay Lohan’s reckless driving, lying trial delayed to March 18,” Anthony McCartney, Jan. 31, 2013