On March 26th, Sambora caught the eye of the Laguna Beach police department just before 11:00 PM. He was observed driving erratically in a black Hummer and pulled over. He failed numerous field sobriety tests and was detained for DUI. Eventually it would be revealed that he had a .13 BAL, well over the .08 legal limit. The most awesome part of course was that his 10-year-old daughter was in the car with him at the time. Luckily for him, he did all this in California, where prosecutors do absolutely nothing.

TMZ has learned Richie Sambora just plea bargained his DUI case. He pled no contest to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher. The driving under the influence charge was dismissed. And, prosecutors did NOT file child endangerment charges.

Although the brass at the Laguna Beach Police Dept. recommended that prosecutors file child endangerment charges, we're told the rank and file cops felt the evidence didn't support the charge. Prosecutors agreed.

Sambora will pay a $390 fine plus penalties -- total damage is around $1,600. He'll be placed on three years informal probation and must attend an alcohol education course. He cannot drink or do drugs during his probation.

(Source: WWTDD)