Britney Spears has been charged with a DUI following her arrest last month, Us Weekly can confirm.
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed one misdemeanor count of “VC” or “vehicle code section 23152” a.k.a. driving under the influence against Spears, 44, on Thursday, April 30.
The office told Us in a statement that Spears will be arraigned on Monday, May 4, at the Ventura County Superior Court.
“Whether or not Ms. Spears will appear at the hearing will be a decision made between her and her attorney,” the DA’s office explained. “Since it is a misdemeanor charge, she is not required to attend, and her attorney can make the appearance for her.”
The statement noted, “This DUI case will be handled according to our standard protocols. For defendants without a prior DUI history, a low blood alcohol level, and where there is no crash or injury, prosecutors typically offer what is known as a ‘wet reckless.’ This law allows a defendant to plead guilty to reckless driving involving alcohol and/or drugs.”
The DA’s office told Us that this type of resolution is “common, particularly when a defendant demonstrates self-motivation to address underlying issues through rehabilitation or a drug and alcohol treatment program.”
“Under that offer, a defendant is placed on probation for 12 months, receives credit for any time spent in custody, is required to complete a DUI class, and must pay state-mandated fines and fees,” the statement continued. “This offer will be extended to Ms. Spears on Monday.”
Us previously confirmed that Spears was arrested for driving under the influence near her California home on March 4. She was booked at 3:02 a.m. the next morning and released within three hours.
Per 911 audio obtained by Us, Spears’ black BMW convertible was veering “in and out of lanes” and speeding prior to her arrest. The call operator also claimed the vehicle was “erratic[ly] braking, swerving and driving with no tail light.”
Shortly after Spears was released from police custody, her spokesperson addressed the ordeal in a statement.
“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” her rep told Us at the time. “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.”
Spears’ spokesperson added, “Her loved ones are going to come up with an overdue, needed plan to set her up for success for well-being.”
Spears’ rep also indicated that her sons, Preston, 20, and Jayden, 19 — whom she shares with ex-husband Kevin Federline — would be “spending time with her” after the incident.
“Her team wants her in rehab or a program to help her get to a better place,” a source exclusively told Us in March. “Everyone around her hopes this will be a wake-up call for her.”
According to the insider, Spears’ arrest was the culmination of a problematic pattern for her.
“This behavior has been going on for months but has been worse recently,” the source said. “She has a lot of alone time at home which leads her to make bad choices like drinking.”
One month after her arrest, Spears’ rep confirmed to Us on April 12 that the singer voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility.
“Britney went to rehab after several conversations with both of her sons,” an insider exclusively told Us in April. “They expressed concern about her recent behavior and urged her to seek professional help, which has been long overdue, to get her back on track. All they’ve ever wanted for their mom is health and happiness, even during the years they were estranged. They hope she’ll take it seriously.”
A separate source agreed that Preston and Jayden “played a big part” in their mom seeking treatment, noting, “She went in to show she is taking it seriously.”
Per the first insider, Spears “is very scared about the possibility of jail time or some other form of serious repercussions, so she recognized that getting ahead of things by voluntarily seeking treatment would only help her case.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
