Justin Timberlake’s Driver’s License Suspended
Singer and actor Justin Timberlake pleaded guilty on Friday to driving while impaired, ending a case that began with his June arrest on drunken-driving charges in the Hamptons, New York.
Timberlake agreed to pay a $500 fine and serve 25 hours of community service for a charity of his choosing, according to his plea. He also accepted a 90-day suspension of his driver’s license in New York.
Original Charges Reduced
Originally charged with the more serious offense of driving while intoxicated, Timberlake entered the plea during a brief appearance at a courthouse in Sag Harbor.
His initial plea agreement included a requirement to make a public safety announcement against drinking and driving. However, Justice Carl Irace, the judge overseeing the case, decided it would be more meaningful for Timberlake to engage in “a period of reflection and contemplation” through community service.
In agreeing to the community service, Timberlake acknowledged his mistake in choosing to drive instead of calling a taxi or arranging a ride from a friend. “It was a clear misjudgment,” he admitted.
Justice Irace, satisfied with Timberlake’s contrition, praised him for his sincerity. Although the judge expressed concern about the absence of drug and alcohol counseling in the plea deal, he chose not to impose it.
Speaking to reporters and cameras outside Sag Harbor Police Headquarters after the hearing, Timberlake urged others to learn from his mistake.
June Early Morning Arrest
The arrest occurred in the early hours of June 18, when a Sag Harbor police officer observed a gray 2025 BMW driving erratically, weaving out of its lane and running a stop sign.
The officer pulled the car over and found Timberlake behind the wheel. The arrest report indicated that Timberlake, 43, had “bloodshot and glassy” eyes, a “strong odor” of alcohol on his breath, and was unsteady on his feet.
During a series of field sobriety tests, including walking in a straight line and standing on one leg, Timberlake “performed poorly,” according to the police report.
