Britney Spears Faces Criminal Charge After DUI Arrest

Britney Spears is facing a criminal charge after being pulled over and arrested for allegedly driving under the influence in March.

On Thursday, April 30, prosecutors in Ventura County, California charged Spears with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Her arraignment is scheduled for Monday May 4 at 9 a.m. PT. Spears is not required to attend in person and her attorney will be able to appear on her behalf. 

A press statement from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office noted that it plans to offer Spears a type of plea deal known as a “wet reckless.” This is offered to people without past DUIs, low blood alcohol level, and where there was no crash or injury. 

The DA’s office noted that this type of resolution is “common, particularly when a defendant demonstrates self-motivation to address underlying issues” through rehab or treatment. Spears voluntarily checked into a rehab facility earlier this month.

If Spears takes the deal, she’ll be able to plead out to reckless driving involving alcohol and/or drugs. The punishment will likely include 12 months of probation, fees and fines, the completion of a DUI class, and credit for any time spent in custody. 

A rep for Spears did not immediately return a request for comment.

Police officers pulled over Spears in March after receiving reports of a BMW “driving erratically at a high rate of speed,” a California Highway Patrol spokesperson told Rolling Stone at the time. Officers said Spears “showed signs of impairment and submitted to a series of field sobriety tests,” after which she was arrested. Spears was booked at around three in the morning and was released just after six a.m. 

At the time, a rep for Spears issued a statement saying, “This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable. Britney is going to take the right steps and comply with the law, and hopefully this can be the first step in long overdue change that needs to occur in Britney’s life. Hopefully, she can get the help and support she needs during this difficult time.”