Queen Latifah's only prison time in the coming months will be on the big screen.

The rapper and actress, who is nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as a prison matron in "Chicago," avoided driving-under-the-influence charges by pleading no contest to misdemeanor reckless driving on Tuesday.

Latifah, who was arrested on November 20 after failing a field sobriety test on the Hollywood Freeway (see [article id="1458797"]"Queen Latifah Arrested After Failing Sobriety Test" [/article]), was sentenced to three years of informal probation and ordered to pay $300 in fines and to participate in an alcohol education program, according to a spokesperson for the city attorney.

Latifah did not attend Tuesday's hearing in a Los Angeles Superior Court. Her attorney entered the plea on her behalf.

The last time the veteran rapper had trouble with the law, in February 1996 in Los Angeles, she was ordered to pay a fine for speeding and possessing a loaded gun and marijuana.

Although she has not released a studio album since 1998's Order in the Court, Latifah dropped a greatest-hits package in December.

Before "Chicago," she appeared in "Brown Sugar" and "The Bone Collector." She is next set to star in a CBS drama called "Mali Anderson."