Singer Britney Spears Drives BMW While Intoxicated, Sentenced to One Day in Jail and a $721 Fine
According to reports, the DUI case of American pop singer Britney Spears concluded on May 4th local time at the Ventura County Court in California. Britney pleaded guilty through her lawyer and accepted a lesser charge of "wet reckless," receiving a one-day jail sentence, one year of probation, a $721 fine, and mandatory DUI education.
The so-called "wet reckless" is a charge under California law that is less severe than a DUI, applicable to dangerous driving behavior under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The judge ruled that the one day Britney was already detained upon arrest could be credited towards her sentence, so she does not need to return to jail.
Reports state that on March 4th of this year, 44-year-old Britney was driving a black BMW on California Highway 101, speeding and swerving, and was stopped by the California Highway Patrol.
Police stated she showed obvious signs of alcohol and drug influence, underwent a series of on-site sobriety tests, and was then arrested and taken to the Ventura County Jail. The criminal complaint shows that both alcohol and at least one drug were detected in her system, but the specific type of drug and blood alcohol concentration were not made public.
On April 30th, the Ventura County Prosecutor formally filed a misdemeanor DUI charge against her. At the May 4th hearing, Britney did not appear in court, and her lawyer, Michael Goldstein, pleaded guilty on her behalf.
Prosecutor Eric Nazaralenko stated after the hearing that this plea agreement is a standard procedure for defendants with no prior DUI convictions, who did not cause an accident or injury, and have a relatively low blood alcohol concentration. Britney's voluntary entry into a substance abuse treatment center for rehabilitation before the court appearance was also taken into consideration.
Under the agreement, Britney received informal probation, is not required to meet regularly with a probation officer, but is required to continue substance abuse treatment, see a psychologist once a week, and a psychiatrist once a month.
Britney is one of the most influential pop singers of the 1990s and 2000s, with representative works including "Toxic" and "Oops!.. I Did It Again," and has sold over 100 million records worldwide. She was placed under guardianship for 13 years in 2008 and was released in 2021.