Footage of Britney Spears’ sobriety test and DUI arrest has been released two months after the incident.
In a video obtained by TMZ on Thursday, May 21, Spears, 44, can be seen undergoing a sobriety test on the side of the road. The Highway Patrol car’s dash footage, which was recorded on March 4, showed Spears seemingly following one officer’s finger up and down and side to side as a light shined on her face.
While the audio is scrambled, a second police officer can be seen at one point approaching Spears and seemingly telling her the test is finished. Moments later, the popstar is handcuffed and turned around to face the vehicle.
Spears appeared to be visibly upset before an officer instructed her how to get into the police car as she was under arrest. (Spears agreed to a plea deal in May for the case.)
In a second video from the same night, two police officers can be seen walking a handcuffed Spears to a car off-camera. The dashcam footage was filmed outside of a hospital of some sort as an ambulance can be seen docked in the background.
“Did you guys take my phone?” Spears asked once out of frame.
The officer explained that the “Toxic” singer’s cellphone was in her purse. When she questioned whether the police had moved the phone from its place, the officer reassured Spears, “No, no, it’s still in there.”
The footage was released hours after Us Weekly exclusively reported on a police report from Spears’ March DUI.
According to the report, Spears was taken into custody on March 4 near her home in Ventura County, California, after 9 p.m. PT.
Authorities initially responded to a call that someone was “traveling at high speeds and swerving,” which was later identified as the Grammy winner.
Police noted that they pulled Spears over after she allegedly illegally crossed into another lane. When they walked up to Spears’ vehicle, the officer said they detected a “distinct odor of an alcoholic beverage” inside the car.
Spears allegedly admitted to having one champagne mimosa seven hours prior. She then allegedly told an officer at the scene, “I could probably drink four bottles of wine and take care of you. I’m an angel.”
The musician also confirmed to police that she had taken multiple prescription drugs that day — 200mg of anticonvulsant and mood stabilizer Lamictal, 40mg of antidepressant Prozac and 2.5 mg of ADHD medication Adderall — according to the report.
“[An officer] located a brown purse that contained a bottle of pills labeled ‘Adderall,’ which were not prescribed to Spears,” the report revealed. “[The officer] also observed an empty wine glass in the cup holder between the front driver seat and passenger seat.”
When it came to her field sobriety test — which is visible in the TMZ footage — Spears reportedly failed.
“Spears related the lights were hurting her head and did not want to continue the test. Spears was unable or unwilling to follow my finger throughout the test,” the report read. “Spears continued to move her head throughout the test after being instructed to keep her head still. Spears related that she was blind in her left eye, but was able to see my finger.”
Us previously reported that after Spears was taken into custody on March 4, she was transferred to a local hospital to have her blood drawn for a blood alcohol content test. The results came back as .06, which is under the legal limit in California of .08 percent.
“This was an unfortunate incident that is completely inexcusable,” Spears’ spokesperson told Us on March 5. “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.”
The “Oops … I Did It Again” singer ultimately entered rehab on April 12, with an insider exclusively telling Us that Spears’ two sons, Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden, 19, played a big part in getting her to go.
“Britney went to rehab after several conversations with both of her sons,” a source told Us at the time, referring to her and ex-husband Kevin Federline’s two kids. “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.”
Earlier this month, Spears made a plea deal in her DUI case where she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge known as “wet reckless driving” and in exchange, her misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol was dismissed.
During the May 4 hearing, which Spears’ attorney attended on her behalf, she was sentenced to 12 months of probation and one day in jail, with credit for the time she spent in custody. Spears is required to complete a DUI class, pay state-mandated fines of $571 and must see a psychologist once a week and a psychiatrist twice a month.
“Through her plea today, Britney has accepted responsibility for her conduct,” Spears’ lawyer, Michael Goldstein, told Us in a statement following the hearing. “She has taken significant steps to implement positive change which is clearly reflected in the Ventura County District Attorney’s decision to reduce the charge in this case and dismiss the DUI. Britney appreciates this discretion and is also grateful for the outpouring of support she has received.”
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).
