Britney Spears has pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless driving in connection with a DUI case, avoiding jail time. The 44-year-old pop star did not appear in court in Ventura County, California, as the charge was a misdemeanour.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko confirmed that Spears entered the plea through her lawyer, taking responsibility at the 'earliest stage'. She has agreed to continue treatment and will receive a year of informal probation, must take a DUI class, and pay state-mandated fines.
Spears was arrested on 4 March after police stopped her on US 101 in southern California for driving her BMW fast and erratically. The California Highway Patrol said she appeared impaired and was taken to county jail after failing field sobriety tests. She was released on bail the next day and voluntarily entered a substance abuse treatment programme.
As part of the plea, Spears has agreed to a 'diminished expectation of privacy in her car', meaning she must submit to searches and sobriety tests if stopped by police. She also agreed to continue mental health and substance abuse treatment and to see a psychologist and psychiatrist regularly.
Her attorney, Michael A Goldstein, entered the guilty plea on her behalf and confirmed she recently completed rehab. He 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.'
