Celebrities with large fan followings often make headlines for driving under the influence, setting a negative example in society for people who are influenced by them.
In the last few months, big names have surfaced online in connection with DUI incidents, such as Tiger Woods, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears.
The 44-year-old pop singer went to the extent of inviting the police officers to her house for lasagna when they stopped her on the highway for a DUI check.
She refused to get out of her BMW for nearly ten minutes, pleading before the officers, saying her children were going to visit her that evening.
Police Dashcam Footage Reveals the Entire Story
The Associated Press reported that Spears was pulled over for speeding and swerving on U.S. 101 in Ventura County near the Los Angeles County line on March 4.
Authorities said that she was charged with misdemeanor DUI and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Dashcam footage of her arrest has surfaced on social media, highlighting how officers could smell alcohol inside her car, as she displayed certain traits of someone who was driving under the influence.
A report from the California Highway Patrol stated:
“Her speech was rapid and slurred, her gait was unsteady, and she was fidgeting with her fingers. Her mood changed from confrontational and agitated to flamboyant and compliant. She also appeared to speak with a British accent at times.”
Spears told the officers something she should not have at that moment: “I could probably drink four bottles of wine and take care of you, I’m an angel.”
However, she reportedly had only one drink, a mimosa, hours before she was stopped by the police. Breath tests suggested a blood alcohol level of .05 and .06, below the .08 level at which someone is presumed impaired in California.
A bottle of Adderall, which is used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was found in her purse, but it was not prescribed to her. Her blood sample was also collected for a drug test. However, those results have not been published in the report.
At the police stop, she refused to get out of the car, saying she had been harassed in the past and that she feared getting out on the highway. The officer told her:
“I pulled you over because you were swerving in two lanes. You were all over the place.”
The officer asked her to step out so he could conduct a DUI investigation. However, she said in a panicked tone:
“I’ll make you food and lasagna or whatever you want. I have a pool. My babies are coming to my house tonight.”
AP News reported that Spears was eventually taken to jail and released on bail.
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Spears Pleads Guilty to Reckless Driving
Spears avoided more jail time by pleading guilty to reckless driving involving alcohol and drugs on May 4. She did not appear for the plea hearing. Her lawyer, Michael Goldstein, said:
“I don’t think anybody’s happy about pleading guilty to anything, but under the circumstances, to get this behind her, I think everybody is pleased with the result.”
The plea agreement is for defendants with no DUI history, low blood alcohol levels, and no record of crashes or injuries on the road.