Britney Spears has pleaded guilty to reckless driving in 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 at the "earliest stage" and agreed to continue treatment. She received a year of informal probation, must take a DUI class, and pay state fines.
Spears was arrested on 4 March after being stopped on US 101 for allegedly driving her BMW fast and erratically. She appeared impaired and failed 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 agreed to searches and sobriety tests if stopped by police, and to continue mental health and substance abuse treatment. Her attorney said she recently completed rehab and that the result was satisfactory given the circumstances.
Spears was previously under a 14-year conservatorship, terminated in 2021. She has since released singles with Elton John and will.i.am but has said she will not return to the music industry.
