Britney Spears has been charged with a single misdemeanour count of driving under the influence of alcohol and at least one drug following her arrest in California
Britney Spears was charged in California on Thursday with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, according to authorities. The 44-year-old pop sensation faces a single misdemeanour count of driving under the combined influence of alcohol and at least one drug, stated the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
An email sent to a representative for Spears seeking comment was not immediately responded to. The criminal complaint does not detail what type of alcohol or drugs, or the quantity, Spears is alleged to have consumed.
Spears, who has since entered substance abuse treatment, was arrested on March 4 after she was stopped for driving her black BMW quickly and erratically on U.S. 101 near her home, said the California Highway Patrol.
She appeared to be impaired, underwent a series of field sobriety tests, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a combination of alcohol and drugs and was taken to a Ventura County jail, the CHP reported.
She was released on bail the following day. Police concluded their investigation and presented it to prosecutors on March 23. A representative at the time labelled Spears’ actions as “completely inexcusable” and suggested it should ideally be “the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life.”
Spears voluntarily checked into a substance abuse treatment facility just over a month after the arrest, her representative confirmed. Spears’ arraignment is scheduled for Monday. As it is a misdemeanour charge, she will not be required.
Prosecutors have stated that the case will be managed according to their standard protocol for defendants with no history of drink driving, no accidents or injuries on the road, and a low blood-alcohol level.
In court on Monday, Spears will be offered what is typically referred to as a “wet reckless,” which allows a defendant to plead guilty and receive 12 months of probation, credit for any time served, a mandatory drink driving class, and state-imposed fines and fees, according to prosecutors.
This offer is particularly common for defendants who have independently demonstrated a willingness to address their issues and seek treatment, said the district attorney’s office.
The former teen pop sensation and “Mickey Mouse Club” alumna became an iconic superstar of the 1990s and 2000s with hits like “Toxic,
“Gimme More” and “I’m a Slave 4 U.” The majority of Spears’ albums have been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, including two diamond titles: 1999’s ” – Baby One More Time” and 2000’s “Oops! – I Did It Again.”
Spears became a tabloid target in the early 2000s, attracting public scrutiny as she struggled with mental health issues while paparazzi documented the details of her private life.
In 2008, Spears was placed under a court-ordered conservatorship, primarily managed by her father and his lawyers, which controlled her personal and financial decisions for over a decade. It was dissolved in 2021.
Since then, she has married and divorced, and released a bestselling, tell-all memoir, “The Woman in Me.”
In recent years, she has essentially retired as an artist, only releasing a handful of collaborative singles since her last full album in 2016.