Mercedes-Benz belonging to the softhearted American Idol judge was traced back to a traffic accident that occurred last December, when the driver of the car apparently failed to look before changing lanes and clipped another car on the 101 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley.

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Though Abdul's car did not stop, the quick-thinking driver of the other car jotted down her license plate and snapped a picture of the Mercedes using a camera phone.

We're guessing the "4EVR UR GRL" vanity plate served as something as a tipoff. (Okay, we totally made that up.)

As of Friday morning, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office was still deciding whether to file charges against Abdul in the "very minor" accident, spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

Abdul was out of the country and unavailable for comment, according to her rep. However, her fans on Fox's Idol forum were prepared to dissect the incident in her absence.

"That doesn't sound like Paula but who knows. She could do anything," mused a user posting under the handle Vonzell_rocs. "She could look sweet and kind on TV and then on the 'outside world' she could be crazy!"

"Have any of you done anything wrong or stupid in your life," ranted another user by the name of chickchat1. "Just because it was not posted all over the news, does not mean you are not guilty. She made a mistake don't we all?"

When she's not busy bolstering the spirits of Idol hopefuls wracked by the wrath of Simon Cowell, Abdul has been hawking a DVD collection called Ultimate Voice Coach on QVC with her other co-judge, Randy Jackson.

The former Lakers Girl has also launched a jewelry line called Innergy and a clothing line called Skirtz, and is reportedly back in the studio, recording a follow-up album to 1995's Head over Heels.

Meanwhile, despite the surprise exit of Abdul favorite Mario Vazquez, the fourth season of American Idol has been racking up monster ratings for Fox.

The talent search's various editions held onto the second, third and fourth slots in the ratings for the week ended Sunday.


god it is soooooooo BAD!!!!! keep ur fingers crossed because this friday they are going to decide if she should be charged.