Ride Me

You'd think Jim Jones would suck it up and buy a Metro Card after losing his license earlier this year -- but no ... the rapper plunked down for a chauffeur.

Jones pled guilty to driving on a suspended license after his arrest in March -- but Jones tells TMZ, it's no big deal ... because now his driver takes him everywhere he needs to go ... guy even drives Jim's kid to school.

The "Love & Hip Hop" star says the cost of hiring the driver is worth it because he doesn't want to end up in jail for another driving violation -- and he feels he's too famous in NYC to take public transportation.

Seven years after "Catwoman" terrorized moviegoers, its damage is still being felt -- a British ferry crashed into a French fishing boat and killed the skipper ... because the ferry crew was talking about Halle Berry and not monitoring their radar ... this according to new reports.

The crash occurred back in March when the Condor Vitesse smacked right into the fishing boat Les Marquises, splitting it in two. According to a report released today about the crash, the ferry's captain and first officer were talking about Halle moments before the crash.

The transcript released by the Daily Mail quotes the captain as saying he was tired because he watched "Catwoman" the night before. He remarked, "She was jumping from everywhere like a cat. She is very beautiful. She was wearing sexy outfit."

Lindsay Lohan hit the L.A. County Morgue in style this morning ... rolling up in an $80,000 Porsche Panamera ... before being turned away at the door.

Lindsay was spotted at a back entrance ... talking with a morgue staffer who appeared to be informing the actress that she needed to go to a different entrance ... redirecting her to the front of the building.

As we previously reported, LiLo was 40 minutes late ... and the Coroner's Office sent her ass home without credit.

"NCIS" star Michael Weatherly has just been sued over the gnarly car accident he got into last year -- after allegedly injuring the other driver so bad ... the guy needed serious neck surgery.

The other driver -- Ivan Romeo Mendez -- filed the lawsuit recently in L.A. County Superior Court ... claiming he had to be hospitalized after the accident, which also destroyed his BMW beyond recognition.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg -- Mendez' lawyer tells TMZ, Ivan is suing for at least $80,000 in medical expenses after he had to undergo a rhizotomy because of the crash ... a neurological procedure that severs problematic nerves in the spinal cord.

So far, no word back from Weatherly's people.

Derek Hough was just trying to party with his fellow "Dancing with the Stars" castmates ... when he got slammed into from behind ... by some dude in a Porsche.

Hough was waiting to valet his car at STK last night ... when another driver banged into the back of D's Audi.

After the accident, the two exchanged information in front of the paparazzi ... and the giddy other driver couldn't have been happier ... sporting a big ol' smile on his face as the snappers took shot after shot.

Sean Kingston is adamant, "I didn't do no hit and run" ... despite TMZ video that appeared to show the singer love-tapping his $400k Maybach into another expensive car and then leaving the scene this weekend.

Kingston was leaving Colony nightclub in Hollywood Monday night ... in a completely different disgustingly expensive ride, a Rolls Royce, when he insisted there was no fender bending the other night.

We're still not 100% on that -- so let's go back to the tape ...

Sean Kingston got behind the wheel of his $400,000 Maybach this weekend ... and MIGHT have backed it into another super-expensive car ... and the whole thing was caught on tape.

Kingston's ride was sandwiched dangerously close between two cars in front of the Geisha House restaurant in Hollywood Sunday night ... but Sean grabbed the keys and tried to pull out anyway.

It SOUNDS like he bumped the Mercedes Benz that was parked behind him ... but Kingston didn't stick around to find out. He left without checking for damage or leaving a note ... but it's not 100% clear that he actually made contact with the other vehicle.

TMZ has learned cops were NOT called about the incident.

We called Sean's people for comment -- but they weren't talking.

Still, we gotta ask ...

"Fantasy Factory" star Rob Dyrdek is $50,000 closer to building a dream skate park for kids in L.A. ... thanks to a HUGE donation from one of his co-stars.

Dyrdek has been super-passionate about building skate parks where kids can SAFELY skate whenever they want -- and now his former assistant Chris Pfaff (better known as Drama) is taking another cue from his mentor and helping the cause ... with a $50,000 donation.

In fact, Drama is so serious about the cause, he's also donating a portion of the profits from a new shirt and a new hoodie that his skate clothing company will be selling.

TMZ spoke to a rep for Drama ... who tells us, "[Pfaff] worked as Rob Dyrdek's assistant for multiple years picking up a lot of the skills and knowledge that Rob had for his businesses. Now it's Drama's turn to give back to Rob's foundation by opening his very own safe spot skate spot."

If you've ever wanted to sit on it ... now's your chance -- because The Fonz's iconic motorcycle from "Happy Days" is hitting the auction block next month.

The 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5 hasn't been ridden since the show ended in 1984 -- and for the last 15 years, it's been gathering dust in some motorcycle shop.

Auctioneers expect the bike to fetch in the $90,000 range -- which is shocking ... because the damn thing doesn't run anymore. And it's speedometer is broken.

It was destroyed in a blazing inferno last week -- and now TMZ has obtained pictures of its smoldering remains ... the History Channel's famous cherry '57 Chevy.

TMZ broke the story ... the car -- which became the centerpiece in a massive three-show special involving "American Pickers," "American Restoration," and "Pawn Stars" -- burst into flames last Friday.

Keanu Reeves returned from running errands in Beverly Hills Thursday afternoon to find that someone backed into his parked motorcycle ... there was only minor damage, but still the cops came.

There were some scratches on the bike, but that's about it

The other guy called the Bev Hills cops ... and police showed up to make sure both parties exchanged info. No one was cited.

Keanu had trouble kick-starting the bike, but eventually he rode off.

Kim Kardashian just dropped a cool $325,000 on a pimped out new Ferrari, TMZ has learned … and it may only be the SECOND most expensive ride in her MILLION DOLLAR auto collection.

The reality star picked up the super-customized, super-rare 458 Italia from Plantinum Motorsport in L.A. earlier this week ... the same place where she got that famous fleet of Phantoms for her wedding.

Kim’s new lightning fast car is painted white – which is shocking, ‘cause she typically prefers black speedsters.

Earlier this year, Kim picked up a BALLER customized Rolls Royce Ghost. It’s unclear how much she paid for that ride, but they usually START at $255k.

Kim also has a “super-charged” $115k Range Rover in her garage – along with several other cars she likes to drive when she doesn’t feel like showing off.

Hate yourself yet?

Eddie Murphy has something better than a limo to get him to his upcoming gig hosting the Academy Awards ... a brand new $200K Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG similar to the one Taylor Lautner recently purchased.

The 50-year-old was spotted getting out of his luxury ride's gullwing doors in L.A. this weekend.

For your consideration.

Knowing a good mechanic is the key -- the guys from "Pawn Stars" proved that Friday when their incinerated classic '57 Chevy was fixed within hours and returned in tip top shape.

Immediately after the fire was extinguished, the car was sent to show regular The Count from Count Customs, who replaced the tires and steering wheel ... as well as lots of other parts.

The car was a gift to "The Old Man" on "Pawn Stars" from stars of various History Channel shows, including "American Restoration" and "American Pickers." It caught fire Friday AM.

The repairs cost "the Old Man" around $3,000.

On the same day his divorce became public, "X-Men" star James Marsden was spotted on his bicycle, picking up dinner from a Thai restaurant in Burbank.

The Shriver/Schwarzenegger family driving misery continued yesterday when Maria Shriver got a parking ticket in Brentwood ... which our camera guy politely handed to her before she drove off!

Her son Patrick was pulled over for speeding last week, Arnold got a parking ticket the day after he left office, and Maria had a slew of parking and driving woes in 2009 (see below) that we thought were behind her.