SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Heather Locklear has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office announced Monday.

The misdemeanor charge stems from Locklear's Sept. 27 arrest in nearby Montecito. The 47-year-old actress was stopped by authorities after an eyewitness (later revealed to be a paparazzi) reported seeing someone "driving erratically." At the time of her arrest, Locklear was parked on the state highway and blocking a lane.

According to People, the drugs in question were "prescription medications."

"Lab tests showed she had no alcohol in her system and no illegal narcotics of any kind," Senior Deputy District Attorney Lee Carter told the magazine, while refusing to disclose any further details about Locklear's medications.

"We believe that the prescriptions she was taking could have impaired her ability to drive a motor vehicle safely," added Carter.

An arraignment date was scheduled for Jan. 26 in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

If convicted, the former "Melrose Place" star faces penalties ranging from a fine to up to six months in jail.