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Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Actress Lindsay Lohan and her attorney Mark Heller listen during a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, Monday, March 18. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Lindsay Lohan accepted a plea deal on Monday in a misdemeanour car crash case that includes 90 days in a locked-down rehabilitation facility that she won't be able to leave.

The 26-year-old actress, who has struggled for years with legal problems, pleaded no contest to reckless driving, lying to police and obstructing officers who were investigating the accident involving the actress in June.

She was also found in violation of her probation in a 2011 necklace theft and sentenced to 180 days in jail. However, she will be able to avoid jail time if she complies with the conditions of her plea deal that also includes 30 days of community labour and 18 months of psychological therapy.

Before the "Meal Girls" actress left the courtroom, Superior Judge Superior Court Judge James R. Dabney offered her a suggestion.

"Don't drive," he said.

The hearing had been set to begin at 8:30 a.m., and Lohan arrived after 9 a.m. looking slightly frazzled in a cream ensemble.

Her lawyers and a prosecutor met with the judge in chambers for more than two hours before Lohan entered the plea.

Attorney Mark Jay Heller, who represents Lohan, left the chambers several times to confer with her in a courtroom hallway.

Lohan previously pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Lohan reportedly missed her original Sunday night flight from New York to Los Angeles, instead travelling on a private plane provided by a Los Angeles-based energy drink company for which she has made promotional appearances.

"Thanks Mr. Pink for the private jet see you all in a few hours in LA," she tweeted early Monday.

Since a pair of arrests for driving under the influence in 2007, Lohan has resolved her numerous court problems without ever going to trial.